Adly added, in a special statement to the agency, that “Egypt has been a pioneering country in implementing this agreement since its inception,” pointing out that the summit is being held today in Egypt after it hosted it more than thirty years ago. He confirmed that “the summit will bring together the 21 countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, in addition to a number of international organizations and civil society institutions,” expressing his hope that it will lead to the issuance of the “Cairo Declaration,” a political declaration emphasizing the importance of the current phase and the importance of cooperation on priority issues for the region.
The environmental expert added that the Mediterranean region “represents a clear model for cooperation between the north and the south,” as it includes European countries alongside North African and Eastern Mediterranean countries, which, according to him, provides significant opportunities for “technical and technological support, capacity building, and the transfer of appropriate technology, as well as financial support.”
Regarding security and political dimensions, Adly noted that “peace and stability are the foundation for development and sustainability,” adding that “the absence of justice for peoples like the Palestinian people hinders development efforts and costs the entire region dearly.”
Regarding less fortunate African countries, Adly said that North Africa — led by Egypt — “represents an important gateway to the continent,” stressing that any environmental or developmental benefits achieved in North Africa “will benefit all of Africa.”
He concluded by affirming that the “COP 24 experience may yield many positives that benefit the African region positively,” calling for “activating international cooperation and support for countries most affected by climate change.”
The activities of the twenty-fourth meeting of the contracting parties to the Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean “COP 24” began this morning in the Egyptian capital, Cairo. According to a Sputnik correspondent, the conference includes representatives from 21 Mediterranean basin countries, along with high-level delegations from the United Nations Environment Programme and several Ministers of Environment.
The opening witnessed prominent attendance by Tatiana Hema, Coordinator of the United Nations Environment Programme and the Mediterranean Action Plan, and Mitja Bricelj, the current president of the conference and representative of Slovenia, along with government and diplomatic figures concerned with environmental and sustainable development issues.
This important meeting aims to review what has been achieved during 2024 and 2025 within the framework of the Mediterranean Action Plan and the Barcelona Convention, including evaluating efforts made to preserve marine ecosystems, combat pollution, and protect coasts. The conference discusses a number of core files that will contribute to shaping the features of regional environmental work in the coming period, as well as for the period 2026/2027, in addition to exploring the development of cooperation mechanisms between member states and enhancing their capabilities in facing environmental challenges, especially those related to climate change and marine pollution.
