Access information on Multilateral Environmental Agreements

The original text, the Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution,  was adopted in 1976 and in 1995, the Contracting Parties adopted an amended version of the Barcelona Convention of 1976, renamed Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean.

The Convention's main objectives are:

• to assess and control marine pollution
• to ensure sustainable management of natural marine and coastal resources;
• to integrate the environment in social and economic development;
• to protect the marine environment and coastal zones through prevention and reduction of pollution, and as far as possible, elimination of pollution, whether land or sea-based;
• to protect the natural and cultural heritage;
• to strengthen solidarity among Mediterranean coastal States;
• to contribute to improvement of the quality of life.