| The Marseilles Declaration
of Environmental Organisations
EURO MED CIVIL FORUM
Marseilles, 10-12 November 2000
Preamble
Euro-Mediterranean Environmental NGOs have agreed on the following
declaration.
- We consider the environment not simply as a topic on the agenda,
but as the vital life support system of our planet and our region.
- We stress that integration of environmental concerns into all
national and regional policies is a pre-condition for sound social
and economic development, given the serious problems with water
scarcity and quality, desertification, climate change, deterioration
of biodiversity, the risks of chemical pollution (e.g. cyanides
in mining, agrochemicals, heavy metals). Neglect of these problems
in any development and co-operation policy will contribute to the
undermining of the natural resource base for development (agriculture,
tourism, fisheries, drinking water supply) aggravate social and
health problems, deepen inequality, add to poverty and lead to new
conflicts within and between societies in the region.
Environmental integration and sustainable development are prerequisites
to the successful implementation of the EuroMed partnership. Furthermore,
sustainable development together with peace is a cross cutting issue
which influences all spheres of the partnership.
- We reconfirm our commitment to the Euro Mediterranean Partnership,
and we are prepared to contribute with our specific capacities and
expertise to strengthen it in co-operation with all stakeholders.
- We welcome that EU and Mediterranean governments have agreed,
within the framework of the Mediterranean Action Plan, the Barcelona
Convention and its protocols on the importance of the Mediterranean
environment.
- We recall our views and commitments in regard the Euro-Mediterranean
Partnership expressed in previous NGO joint statements, notably:
• The NGO Declaration to the Euro-Med Ministers of Foreign
Affairs, Environmental Civil Forum-Stuttgart, April 13-15, 1999
• The Declaration of the Mediterranean Environmental NGOs
presented at the second Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference
on Local Water Management, Turin, 18 October 1999
• The Common Position of Environmental NGOs, Euro Mediterranean
Water Forum, Brussels, 7 June 2000
• The Comité de Suivi, CDS, Statement to the SMAP Correspondents
Meeting, Brussels June 13-14 2000.
- We are alarmed by the difficulties encountered in the Middle East
Peace Process. Without peace and stability, the Euro Med process
is destined to fail. The EU has a political and moral obligation
to be fully engaged in promoting peace and stability in the Mediterranean.
- We are also concerned about mistrust and armed conflicts in several
other areas of the region and the lack of democracy in many partner
countries, which also has a negative impact on the Euro-Mediterranean
partnership. All players in the region need to work together to
create peace and democracy.
- We recall the commitments of the Barcelona Declaration and the
Stuttgart Ministerial Conference regarding civil society participation
and in particular the role of NGOs. We consider that despite, such
commitments, the dialogue remains insufficient, intransparent and
exclusive, to the detriment of the NGO movement in general.
The Euro-Mediterranean NGO community looks forward to the establishment
of a sustainable and peaceful Euro-Mediterranean area. We therefore
call on the 27 Ministers of Foreign Affairs meeting in Marseilles,
to ensure that the following takes place:
Elaboration of an overall Euro-Med Sustainable Development Strategy
Programming of the future implementation of the Barcelona Declaration
needs a public debate where all stakeholders, including NGOs, in
the 27 Partners should be involved as well as the European Parliament
and the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Forum.
The public debate should be on the following issues:
• evaluation of past implementation of the Partnership, successes
and failures,
• complementarities and contradictions between existing strategies
and official texts on the Euro-Mediterranean process.
The aim should be to develop, adopt and implement a Euro-Mediterranean
Sustainability Strategy or action plan at the regional level beyond
the present bilateralism and in order to promote the sharing of
concerns among the Mediterranean non EU countries. Closer and regular
co-operation and consultation of the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP/UNEP)
and the Mediterranean Commission for Sustainable Development (MCSD)
should be promoted. An effective mechanism is needed to implement
and monitor this Sustainable Development Strategy.
Within the Sustainability Strategy, sustainability indicators, notably
those endorsed by the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention
in 1999 and targets need to be designated with proper financing.
The Sustainability Impact Assessment of the MFTZ that will be conducted
by the European Commission as well as the results and recommendations
of the impact studies of the Mediterranean Commission for Sustainable
Development and from various NGOs, should contribute in the development
of a coherent Euro Med Sustainability Strategy in the run up to
Rio plus 10. The assessments and consequent policy recommendations
need to be conducted and assessed in consultation with the Southern
Mediterranean partner countries and with civil society at regional
and national level.
Full integration of environmental concerns
We recall the commitments of the Barcelona Declaration and the Stuttgart
Ministerial conference related to "the necessary integration
of environmental concerns into all policies". We regret that
despite such commitments no progress has been made since Stuttgart
(April 1999) but rather observe that the Mediterranean environment
continues to deteriorate. We point out in particular, the lack of
a sustainable and environmental approach within the Common Strategy
on the Mediterranean region adopted by the European Council in Feira
in June 19, 2000.
- Sound and sustainable economic policies are prerequisites for
development" is a general statement that needs to be applied
to all EU co-operation agreements, including the Euro-Mediterranean
Partnership.
Environmental concerns need to be fully integrated into the bilateral
as well as all sectoral activities. High level environmental legislation
and standards need to be promoted throughout the region, with particular
support by the EU.
Environment and water issues have to be addressed in a regional
context and should be integrated according to the integrated water
resource management (IWRM), in the other four priorities of the
Partnership: energy, transport, industry and information society.
NGOs welcome the Core for Action Plan adopted at the Mediterranean
Conference of water stakeholders and decision makers; held in Athens;
Nov 2000.
Policies are needed to reduce wasteful subsidies in environmentally
harmful fields.
NGOs call on Governments ensure that:
1. Regular cross-sectoral meetings take place between the Ministers
for Environment, Cooperation and Development, Energy, Agriculture,
Industry, Transport and Tourism;
• The Environmental Ministers of the EuroMed partnership meet
on a regular basis starting from 2001, focusing on preparations
for Rio + 10;
• Decentralisation of the management of the Partnership and
strengthening of the role of Ministers for Environment and the EU
Delegations in the Partners countries is promoted. This would imply
better flow of information, capacity building of local staff in
environmental ministries and related governmental agencies and additional
staff in the Delegations dealing with environmental and sustainability
issues.
We underline the potential of SMAP to play an important role in
the needed integration process. For this it is necessary to:
• Recuperate the SMAP as environmental strategy framework
of the Euro Mediterranean Partnership.
• Include clear references to the SMAP in the National Indicative
Programmes, the Regional Indicative Programme, Country Strategies
and especially in the Association Agreements.
• Create specific and increased support to the SMAP programme
both at the national and regional level.
• Create a well staffed team on Mediterranean issues within
the D.G. Environment of the European Commission.
• Reconsider, simplify and increase NGO access to decision
making mechanisms and the management of the programme.
• Take initiatives for its implementation; in particular at
national level where action has not been taken so far.
• Ensure high level representation in the meetings of the
national SMAP correspondents.
• Implement the MCSD Recommendations with SMAP financial support.
Other priorities
Agriculture and tourism have already been proposed by the European
Commission as potentially new areas of co-operation. Both sectors
are essential for Partner countries not only because of their economic
importance but because of their social and environmental implications.
They are both resource-sensitive and affect particularly water resources
and the coastal regions of the Mediterranean Partner Countries.
In the context of the Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Agreements these
two sectors will have an enormous impact on Mediterranean eco-systems
and social structures and in consequence, on employment as well
as poverty.
A sustainable Euro Mediterranean agricultural policy must be elaborated
by end 2002 with full stakeholder participation, to enhance sustainable
rural livelihoods and household food security in accordance with
commitments assumed at the UN World Food Summit, 1996, to support
farmers delivery of environmental services, empower rural women
and to prepare for and mitigate the impact of climate change;
Agricultural policies should be an integral part of cooperation
in accordance with sustainable development principles, the specificities
of the Southern countries and the prevention of social, economic
and environmental risks.
All bilateral agreements and the MEDA funds should be used to develop
sustainable agriculture and responsible tourism. The private sector
has to be accountable for the impacts of its investments in these
two sectors, and incentives to introduce environmentally sound practices
need to be put in place by the Commission;
A sustainable long term tourism strategy needs to be agreed and
be developed with full stakeholder participation by end 2002. I
will need to be compatible with the regions environmental and social
carrying capacity.
Agreement on and implementation of MEDA II
MEDA should become the cornerstone of social, environmental and
economic programmes in the Mediterranean Partner countries. To ensure
this, public debate and open dialogue on the implementation and
evaluation of MEDA is necessary.
MEDA II should be less focused on economics and pay increased attention
to the other dimensions of the Partnership: democratic, social,
cultural and environmental. These dimensions are a precondition
to peace, stability and the long term prosperity of the region.
The envelope of MEDA II needs to be at least 5.6 Billion EURO As
a means to promote sustainable development, increased funding for
environment is necessary as well as legislative measures, instruments
and new environmental standards to promote real environmental integration.
New MEDA procedures should foresee the review and even cancel if
necessary projects which appear to be harmful for the environment.
Moreover, MEDA should support the development and implementation
of National Strategies for Sustainable Development and the establishment
of National Commissions for
Sustainable Development (NCSD) in the partner countries,
MEDA should also support co-operation with the MCSD and MAP/UNEP.
Receiving MEDA funds should be conditioned, as proposed by the European
Parliament , in line with the SMAP objectives to the compliance
by Mediterranean Partners countries with the UN’s international
Conventions on the environment starting with the ratification of
the Barcelona Convention (and its revised protocols) for which additional
financial resources have to be found.
The share of regional co-operation in MEDA should be strongly increased.
Furthermore, there should be further strengthening of the social
pillar, stronger "South-South" co-operation and financial
support to promote fruitful horizontal, and inter-regional co-operation
in environmental, cultural, religious and social spheres.
MEDA should promote the introduction and use of clean production
methods and ambitious environmental standards to avoid eco-dumping
and technology delocalisation. Support for the transfer of environmentally
damaging technologies should not be made possible.
Balanced and additional funding for the Mediterranean
The EU should not put into competition the Balkans, the Enlargement
process and the EuroMediterranean Partnership. These three political
priorities should be considered to be on an equal footing: EU financial
allocations must reflect this.
All Mediterranean Countries should be included in the Euro-Med Partnership:
This will allow also a higher synergy between the EuroMed Partnership
and the Barcelona Convention/MCSD.
To increase financial support to the Mediterranean, new facilities
and innovative financial instruments such as debt conversion/swaps
for social and environmental projects and capacity building programmes
should be investigated and applied.
Enhanced coherence, coordination and synergies of EU policies
in the Partnership and within bilateral co-operation of EU Member
States
Coherent EU policies towards the Mediterranean region are far from
being achieved. Coherence should be reinforced notably with the
Common Agricultural and Fisheries Policies and Biodiversity policies,
as well as its Research Programmes. Mediterranean NGOs call for
a planning policy aimed at balanced, sustainable, integrated spatial
development of the Euro-Med territory as demanded by the European
Parliament.
More transparency and increased public participation and funds for
civil society
• The existence of civil society is a necessary complement
to democratic institutions in the development of a truly participatory
democratic order. For this purpose, all governments in the region
as well as the Commission should ensure that civil society, citizens
organisations and NGOs:
• Enjoy full freedom of association and speech as a basic
prerequisite for democracy and the involvement of civil society.
Sign, ratify and implement the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information,
Public Participation in Environmental Matters and Access to Justice.
• Freely participate in NGO co-operation on the international
level and in international fora, in particular the EuroMed Partnership.
This will also improve the quality of these processes.
• Be fully informed and involved in consultation on co-operation
policies and strategies, on priorities for co-operation especially
in Association Agreements, National Indicative Programmes and projects
financed by MEDA and EIB loans, and receive financial assistance
for such involvement.
• Be involved in the implementation of co-operation projects
and programmes in areas that concern them or where these actors
have a comparative advantage;
• Be provided with capacity-building support in order to reinforce
the capabilities of these actors, particularly as regards organisations
and representation, and the establishment of consultation mechanisms
including channels of communication and dialogue.
Furthermore, educational programs should be developed in order to
strengthen the consciousness about environment and sustainable development
and the participation of the civil society.
Increased regional co-operation
Regional co-operation has a multiplier effect and responds to common
challenges and common interests. Environment and water have to be
addressed in a regional context (along the lines of the Core for
Action Plan; Athens Nov 2000) and should be integrated, horizontally,
in the other four priorities of the Partnership: energy, transport,
industry and information society. A coherent approach to the work
initiated on the six priority issues should be developed. And synergies
between regional and bilateral co-operation should be developed
as recommended by the European Commission.
Bilateral agreements
We are concerned about the lack of full integration of the environment
in the various chapters of the association agreements between the
EU and four southern Mediterranean countries. This will hinder the
progress on sustainable development throughout the region.
We demand:
• that environmental concerns be taken into account in all
relevant chapters of future association agreements;
• that the existing strategies and time-frames are revised
to reflect sustainable development.
To this end, it is indispensable that Environment Ministers take
part in the negotiations on the association agreements.
In the framework of the association agreement, special attention
needs to be given to national capacity building for the follow-up
and evaluation of the environmental impact of the establishment
of the Euro-Mediterranean free trade area.
Make the Mediterranean a Nuclear Free Zone
For the Charter for Peace and Stability, it is a necessary precondition
to address the need to ban nuclear weapons as well as nuclear energy
throughout the Mediterranean and to create a nuclear free Mediterranean
zone.
The Declaration was endorsed by the NGO list below:
• AKCEP Mediterranean NGO Platform of Turkey, Turkey
• AMWAJ pour l’Environnement, Lebanon
• Arab Network for Environment and Development, Egypt
• Association Ecologique de Bou-Merdes, Algeria
• Association Homme, Environnement et Réseaux de Développement,
Morocco
• Association Les Amis de la Saoura, Algeria
• Association de Protection de la Nature et de l’Environnement
de Kairouan, Tunisia
• Association Tunisienne pour la Protection de la Nature et
de l’Environnement, Tunisia
• Bibliothèque d’Echanges de Documentation et
d’Expérience, France
• Comité 21, France
• Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services, Egypt
• CSEAAM, Italy
• Ecological Malta Foundation, Malta
• Eco-Mediterrania, Spain
• ENDA Maghreb, Morocco
• ENDA Tiers Monde, France
• Energies Alternatives, France
• European Environmental Bureau, Belgium
• Friends of the Earth Europe, Belgium
• Friends of the Earth MedNet, Spain
• Heinrich Boell Foundation, Belgium
• Institute of Hospitals Day for Development, Egypt
• Lawyers for Environment Group, Turkey
• Lebanese Environment Forum, Lebanon
• Life and Environment, Israel
• Maison de l’Environnement, France
• Maison des Tiers Monde, France
• MED Forum, Mediterranean NGO Network, Spain
• Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture
and Sustainable Development, Greece
• Mouvement Ecologique Algérien, Algeria
• Nature Trust, Malta
• Society fir the Conservation of Nature, Turkey
• SOLAGRAL, France
• World Wide Fund for Nature, Belgium
• World Wide Fund for Nature / Mediterranean Programme Office,
Spain.
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