Egypt on Tuesday officially took over the presidency of the 24th Conference of the Parties (COP24) to the Barcelona Convention, a regional treaty aimed at protecting the Mediterranean Sea from pollution. The announcement was made as Cairo is hosting the 24th Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean (Barcelona Convention) and its Protocols on 2–5 December 2025. Egypt will assume the presidency of the Barcelona Convention for two years. Manal Awad, Egypt's Minister of Local Development and Acting Minister of Environment, received the presidency from Mitja Bricelj, President of the Bureau of the Contracting Parties. She inaugurated the conference in Cairo under the theme; Sustainable Blue Economy for a Resilient and Healthy Mediterranean. The conference brings together ministers and representatives from 21 countries and multiple regional and international organisations. In her opening remarks, Awad said Egypt's leadership of the conference reflects regional confidence in its active role in addressing environmental challenges and promoting sustainable development across the Mediterranean. She highlighted Egypt's efforts to safeguard marine and coastal ecosystems, which stretch over 3,000 km and serve as a critical source of food, energy, tourism, and trade for millions of Egyptians. "The blue economy is not just an environmental concept but a new economic model capable of driving sustainable growth, creating decent jobs, and protecting marine biodiversity," Awad said according to a ministry statement. She added that Egypt has developed a national framework for a sustainable blue economy encompassing environmental, economic, social, and institutional aspects. Awad also announced that Egypt, in collaboration with the World Bank and international partners, is preparing the country's first integrated national strategy for the blue economy. The strategy will provide a roadmap for sustainable use of marine resources, including eco-tourism, sustainable fisheries, renewable marine energy, low-carbon shipping, and investment in technological innovation. The conference will also discuss key regional initiatives for the next decade, including the 2026–2035 Mediterranean Sustainable Development Strategy, updated environmental monitoring plans, climate adaptation frameworks, and the Cairo Ministerial Declaration, which aims to accelerate the transition to a sustainable and inclusive blue economy. Egypt's presidency of COP24 underscores its ambition to strengthen regional cooperation and partnerships to ensure a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient Mediterranean for future generations. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
