Mediterranean countries meet in Slovenia to strengthen transboundary environmental assessments

28. 5. 2025

Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy

Portorož, Slovenia | 28–30 May 2025 – Representatives from Mediterranean countries, international organizations, and financial institutions are meeting this week in Portorož for the 2nd Sub-regional Meeting on Environmental Assessments in a Transboundary Context in the Mediterranean Sea.

Graphic representation of the Mediterranean Sea

Hosted by the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy of the Republic of Slovenia, the event aims to enhance cooperation on environmental impact assessment (EIA) and strategic environmental assessment (SEA) across the Mediterranean region.

Organized in collaboration with the UNECE Secretariat to the Espoo Convention and its Protocol on SEA and the UNEP/MAP–Barcelona Convention Secretariat, the meeting is part of the 2024–2026 Workplan under the Espoo Convention.

Participants are working to harmonize legal and procedural approaches, share national experiences, and address key challenges in implementing transboundary SEA and EIA—particularly in marine and coastal areas. Special attention is given to capacity-building needs in Southern Mediterranean countries.

Highlights include:

Case studies from across the Mediterranean and beyond
A roundtable on maritime spatial planning in transboundary settings
A regional survey and workshop on institutional and technical needs

This meeting supports greater synergy between the Espoo Convention, the Protocol on SEA, and the Barcelona Convention, helping countries work together to protect the Mediterranean’s shared environment amid increasing climate and development pressures.