The Marine Litter MED II project, funded by the European Commission, DG Environment (EC-DG ENV) , further supports the implementation of the updated Regional Plan on Marine Litter Management in the Mediterranean approved by COP 22 (Antalya, Türkiye, 7-10 December 2021) at national, sub-regional and regional level with a particular focus on southern Mediterranean countries namely Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia. The project builds on the outcomes of the EU-funded Marine Litter MED project (2016-2019).
Marine Litter MED II is endowed with a budget of 1,28 million USD, including Mediterranean Trust Fund (MTF) in-kind contribution. It is executed for a duration of 36 months by the UNEP/MAP-Barcelona Convention Secretariat and MAP Components, namely MED POL, SCP/RAC, SPA/RAC and REMPEC, in line with their respective mandates and areas of expertise.
The project contributed to the implementation of the UNEP/MAP 2016-2021 Mid-Term Strategy (MTS) and the 2020-2021 Programme of Work, and is now providing an important contribution to UNEP/MAP Mid-Term Strategy (MTS) 2022-2027 and 2022-2023 Programme of Work, and of several COP Decisions related to the implementation of the Regional Plan on Marine Litter Management in the Mediterranean, the region-wide Marine Litter Guidelines, the Ecosystem Approach and Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme (IMAP), with a focus on supporting enhanced marine litter management in the region and a litter-free Mediterranean.
The delivery of project activities are conducted in accordance with EU MSFD and EU Single-Use Plastics Directives.
Marine Litter MED II project contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14): Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development and several SDG indicators.
Objectives
The overall objective of the Marine Litter MED II project is to reduce and prevent the generation of marine litter in the Mediterranean through an expanded implementation of key reduction and prevention measures as provided for in the updated Regional Plan on Marine Litter Management in the Mediterranean.
The specific objectives are:
- to expand the implementation of the selected measures both in terms of geographical scope and impact;
- to further contribute to the development of IMAP Candidate Indicator 24 towards making it operational at country level;
- to contribute to achieving the reduction environmental targets as agreed by the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention in 2016 during COP 18, as reaffirmed during COP 21 and referred to in its Naples Ministerial Declaration.
Expected results
Building on the outcomes of its first phase, the project is executed to achieve results in three main areas:
a) support to Monitoring and Assessment in the Mediterranean;
b) upscaling and expansion of pilot project implementation of related measures of the updated Regional Plan on Marine Litter Management in the Mediterranean;
c) enhancement of inter-basin cooperation with a focus on strengthening collaboration with the Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution (BSC), General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) and other regional partners affiliated with the G7 and G20 Marine Litter Action Plans.
Learn more:
- Marine Litter MED II Project Document
- Amendments to the Regional Plan on Marine Litter Management in the Mediterranean in the Framework of Article 15 of the Land Based Sources Protocol
- Region-wide Guidelines: (a) Adopt-a-Beach; (b) Phase-out of Single Use Plastic Bags; (c) Provision of Reception Facilities in Ports and the Delivery of Ship-Generated Wastes; (d) Application of Charges at Reasonable Costs for the Use of Port Reception Facilities
- Guidelines to Tackle Single-Use Plastic Products in the Mediterranean
- Guidelines to Address Single-Use Plastics through Public Procurement in the Mediterranean
- Plastic’s Toxic Additives and the Circular Economy
- The Business Case for Tackling Plastic Packaging
- The Heroes of the Mediterranean Disembark Against Single-Use Plastics
- Study based on a Literature Review on Existing Best Practices in the Mediterranean as well as other European Regional Seas for the Application of Charges at Reasonable Costs and of the No-Special-Fee system for the Use of Port Reception Facilities
- Study on Trends and Outlook of Marine Pollution from Ships and Activities and of Maritime Traffic and Offshore Activities in the Mediterranean
- Protocols for Monitoring Interactions between Marine Litter and Marine Turtles (Ingestion and Entangling) with a view to Harmonising Methods of Data Collection for Monitoring and Assessment
- Guidelines for the Design of a Regional Network for Monitoring & Assessment of IMAP Candidate Indicator 24 in the Mediterranean
- Defining the Most Representative Species for IMAP Candidate Indicator 24 in the Mediterranean
- Report of First Steering Committee Meeting of the EU-funded Marine Litter MED II Project (20 September 2021)
- Bright spots in the Mediterranean - An assortment of projects funded by the European Union and executed by the Mediterranean Action Plan of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP/MAP) is strengthening the implementation of the Barcelona Convention and its Protocols
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