Making regional cooperation work on the ground
Working through its network of National Focal Points (NFPs), PAP/RAC facilitates coordination across sectors and governance levels, enabling more coherent decision-making and alignment with regional and international commitments.
Clear and coherent policies are essential for effective coastal and marine planning. Within the Barcelona Convention system, PAP/RAC contributes to shaping regional policy guidance and strategic orientations for ICZM and MSP, addressing shared Mediterranean priorities related to coast, sea, climate and nature.
At the national level, PAP/RAC supports countries in translating these regional orientations into policy-relevant inputs for decision-makers, including within national strategies, planning processes and sectoral policies. In this context, ICZM strategies, plans and programmes serve as key policy instruments that help align sectoral priorities and reflect the needs of a wide range of coastal actors. This contributes to coherent long-term approaches to coastal resilience and sustainable development.
Effective governance turns policy commitments into coordinated action. PAP/RAC supports harmonised regional and national implementation of ICZM and MSP through structured dialogue, cooperation and peer exchange across the Mediterranean. PAP/RAC NFPs guide and contribute to these processes.
Regional working groups and expert platforms bring together policymakers, planners and technical experts, enabling shared learning and helping align approaches across the basin. At the national level, PAP/RAC supports coordination among institutions and sectors involved in coastal and marine management. In this context, ICZM and MSP planning processes provide a structured space for cooperation among public authorities, scientists, businesses and civil society, helping countries strengthen institutional collaboration, address complex coastal challenges and navigate uncertainty.
Across the Mediterranean, PAP/RAC operates through four interconnected focus areas [link na tekst o focus areas], guiding coastal and marine governance.
Strong regional policies and effective governance underpin integrated coastal management in the Mediterranean. Building on its leading role in developing the ICZM Protocol — the region’s legally binding framework — PAP/RAC actively supports its implementation across the Mediterranean, from advancing the Common Regional Framework for ICZM to assisting countries and local authorities in co-developing strategies, plans and programmes.
By providing policy guidance and strategic inputs to UNEP/MAP processes, we contribute to defining shared regional priorities for coastal zones under the Ecosystem Approach (EcAp) and Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Framework (IMAP). This work is implemented through the network of National Focal Points and through coordination of the Ecosystem Approach Correspondence Group on Monitoring (CORMON) for Coast and Hydrography, strengthening regional cooperation and harmonised coastal monitoring.
MSP in the Mediterranean is advancing towards a shared regional vision and coherent approaches across the basin. PAP/RAC led the development of the Conceptual Framework for Implementing MSP in the Mediterranean, which serves as the common reference for countries to structure and align their national MSP processes.
This effort is supported by the MSP Working Group – the central regional platform for MSP under the Barcelona Convention. It facilitates direct coordination among countries and promotes the integration of biodiversity, climate and sustainable blue economy priorities into marine spatial planning.
Climate adaptation in the Mediterranean is guided by shared regional policy orientations. PAP/RAC contributes to implementing the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Framework, which provides a common reference for addressing climate impacts in coastal and marine areas and identifying priorities for adaptation and risk management.
Through policy guidance, collaborative platforms and practical support in strategic integrated planning PAP/RAC connects experts, policymakers and institutions to advance climate adaptation, risk management and coastal resilience. This supports knowledge exchange and helps integrate climate considerations into coastal and marine planning processes across the Mediterranean.
Healthy ecosystems are the backbone of a resilient Mediterranean, but their future depends on how they are managed today. Regional policy work on nature and biodiversity advances shared Mediterranean priorities for conserving coastal and marine ecosystems.
By facilitating policy dialogue and developing guidance on governance in integrated planning and management – including coastal wetlands and water resources, PAP/RAC, strengthens long-term ecosystem governance across the region. The objective is to ensure that natural values are managed as a shared resource, safeguarding the natural systems that sustain the Mediterranean basin.
