Activities, programmes and projects implemented by the MAP Coordinating Unit and the MAP Components, including six Regional Activity Centres (RACs) operating from host Mediterranean countries, translate the vision of a healthy and prosperous Mediterranean into a gradually expanding constellation of achievements.
The MAP Coordinating Unit
In line with Article 17 of the Barcelona Convention, UNEP provides secretariat services to the Contracting Parties through its MAP Coordinating Unit, established in Athens in 1982 on the basis of a Host Country Agreement between Greece and UNEP.
The overall mission of the Coordinating Unit, is to promote and facilitate the implementation of the Barcelona Convention, its Protocols and Strategies, and of the Decisions and Recommendations of the Contracting Parties. It ensures the functioning of the MAP system and facilitates the work of the Contracting Parties to meet their commitments under the Barcelona Convention and its Protocols.
The UNEP/MAP Coordinating Unit:
- develops, implements and monitors the Programme of Work, organizes and provides secretariat services for the meetings of subsidiary bodies established within the MAP framework.
- provides through the UN Mediterranean knowledge platform (INFO/MAP) system effective reporting services to facilitate implementation Barcelona Convention and is entrusted with regularly reporting on the State of the Environment and Development in the Mediterranean and on the overall status of implementation of the Barcelona Convention and its Protocols.
- ensures the financial management of the MAP system and coordinating the implementation and periodic updating of the MAP information and communication policy.
In implementing its Programme of Work, the Coordinating Unit receives the technical support and assistance of the MAP Components in accordance with their individual mandates, and with specific decisions of the Contracting Parties.
The MAP Components
The Components constitute a source of strength for the entire MAP-Barcelona Convention system. This set-up allows the system to acquire and develop essential expertise for the execution of the Convention, notably through the specific mandates of the RACs, while keeping a shared sense of direction and common purpose.
- The Mediterranean Pollution Assessment and Control Programme (MED POL) based at the Coordinating Unit in Athens, Greece.
- The Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC) based in Valletta, Malta.
- The Plan Bleu Regional Activity Centre (PB/RAC) based in Marseille, France
- The Priority Actions Programme Regional Activity Centre (PAP/RAC) based in Split, Croatia.
- The Specially Protected Areas Regional Activity Centre (SPA/RAC) based in Tunis, Tunisia
- The Regional Activity Centre for Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP/RAC - MEDWaves) based in Barcelona, Spain
- The Regional Activity Centre for Information and Communication (INFO/RAC) based in Rome, Italy
