Egypt's Minister of Environment, Yasmine Fouad, chaired the closing session marking the 50th anniversary of the Mediterranean Action Plan and the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona Convention. The high-level event was held on the sidelines of the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), co-hosted by France and Costa Rica in the city of Nice. The session convened 11 environment ministers and 3 deputy ministers from across the Mediterranean region, alongside Tatjana Hema, Coordinator of the UN Environment Programme's Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP). The event featured two thematic sessions. The first showcased member state success stories in areas such as marine protected areas, pollution prevention, regional cooperation, monitoring and evaluation, and integrated coastal zone management. The second addressed strategies to combat single-use plastics, promote sustainable financing, and enhance synergies for plastic pollution control. Minister Fouad described the event as a timely opportunity to reflect on five decades of shared environmental action. "This gathering embodies the spirit of Mediterranean solidarity and ambition. It is not just about preserving the environment, but safeguarding our culture, identity, and shared humanity," she remarked. She commended the French Minister of Environment for an "inspiring address" highlighting 15 years of fruitful partnership, expressing hope that this cooperation would continue to the 60th anniversary milestone. Fouad also stressed the urgency of intensifying efforts to achieve a pollution-free Mediterranean, particularly amid rising plastic pollution threats. With the next session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC 5.2) on a global plastics treaty set for August, the Minister underscored the importance of concluding a legally binding agreement that could "mark the beginning of the end for plastic pollution." In her remarks, Fouad highlighted the importance of sustainable financing and international collaboration. "The Mediterranean region offers a valuable model of governance, with 22 countries working together on issues ranging from pandemic response to biodiversity and sea level rise," she noted. She also praised the successful case studies shared during the session, applauding initiatives focused on biodiversity-climate linkages, coastal zone management, and community engagement in marine protection. "These were not just presentations—they were passionate, hopeful stories that energised everyone in the room," she added. On the sidelines of the conference, Minister Fouad held a bilateral meeting with Jessica Roswall, European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience, and Competitive Circular Economy. Discussions focused on ongoing negotiations for a global plastics treaty and aligning positions ahead of the INC 5.2 meeting. Fouad reaffirmed Egypt's support for establishing an independent financial mechanism to fund the treaty's objectives, thereby reducing pressure on the Global Environment Facility (GEF). She also referred to existing cooperation between Egypt and the EU on biodiversity finance within the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. "A new plastics treaty requires ambitious targets and a dedicated funding stream—both public and private," she stated. "We must ensure financial responsibilities are shared fairly and do not disproportionately burden developing countries or shift the cost unfairly onto the private sector." The Minister further underscored the importance of technology transfer, especially for phasing out single-use plastics. "Reducing plastic bag use hinges on access to viable alternatives—and that depends on technology. Funding must also support access to innovation," she stressed. In closing, Fouad affirmed that financing, technology transfer, equitable access, and shared responsibility between developed and developing countries are all essential pillars for achieving a robust and effective global treaty to end plastic pollution.
