Cairo: The 24th Conference of the Parties to the Barcelona Convention (COP24), led by Ali Abu Senna, Head of the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, has officially adopted the Cairo Declaration, reinforcing a shared commitment to conserving and sustainably managing the Mediterranean Sea and its marine and coastal resources.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the 46-point declaration emphasizes the role of environmental protection as essential for regional stability, economic prosperity, and sustainable development. The declaration underscores the member states’ dedication to addressing illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, ensuring a well-monitored, resilient Mediterranean Sea, and achieving Good Environmental Status. It also includes the adoption of the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development (MSSD) 2026-2035.

The declaration urges national, sub-national, and local authorities, along with regional actors and initiatives, to align their development plans with the objectives set out in the MSSD 2026-2035.

The Cairo-hosted meeting saw participation from Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Croatia, Egypt, the European Union, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Libya, Lebanon, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Slovenia, Spain, Tunisia, and Turkey.