For a cleaner Mediterranean by the year 2020
This initiative is funded by the European Commission through DG EuropeAid.

H2020 Pollution Reduction and Prevention Investments Sub Group

on 12 Sep 2010.

The H2020 Pollution Reduction Sub Group is one of the three sub-groups set up by the Horizon 2020 Steering Group. Chaired by the UfM Secretariat and the European Investment Bank (EIB), its task is the identification and development of investment projects to reduce the most significant sources of pollution in the Mediterranean.

The work is being carried out in close coordination with the framework of the Barcelona Convention and led by UNEP-MAP (Mediterranean Action Plan) and the investment component of pollution reduction stipulated in the National Action Plans (NAPs), which were adopted in early 2016 in the framework of the LBS Protocol of the Barcelona Convention, under the UNEP/MAP MEDPOL programme. 

As mandated by Ministers and set out in the objectives of Horizon2020, the PRPI group aims to establish a list of flagship projects that contribute to environmental de-pollution of the Mediterranean and socio-economic development in the region. The idea behind this coordination effort is to first identify regionally significant and bankable projects and then to give these projects strategic priority in order to push them forward to implementation.

Specific importance of the work is being placed on more strongly involving the Private Sector as well as local authorities and municipal infrastructures.

In support of this, the FEMIP (Facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership) – funded Mediterranean Hot Spots Investment Programme is underway. It is now in its second phase of implementation.

The Horizon2020 Initiative

Reaching its closing in 2020, the key achievements of the Initiative include: more investments, strengthened policy and legal frameworks as well as capacities to implement them, improved information and knowledge, enhanced education and awareness, higher priority of pollution reduction and prevention on national, regional and global political agendas (vs depollution) and contribution to setting the path towards green economy in the region.

The Mediterranean Sea is the largest of the semi – enclosed European seas, surrounded by 21 countries that share a coastline of 46,000 km. The region is home to around 480 million people and the environmental challenges it faces are significant. Back in 2006, the ‘Horizon 2020 Initiative’ was launched inviting all committed stakeholders to join efforts in substantially reducing pollution in the Mediterranean by the year 2020 by tackling the sources of pollution that are said to account for around 80% of the overall pollution of the Mediterranean Sea: municipal waste, urban waste water and industrial pollution.

Achievements

Investment projects

more than 1.4 billion eur mobilised

People trained

more than 5000 people trained

Common indicators to monitor progress

11 macro-indicators

Final Report of the Horizon 2020 Initiative for a Cleaner Mediterranean: 14 years of Mediterranean Cooperation on Environment

Moving forward with 2030GreenerMed

Taking note of the lessons learned from H2020, a follow-up agenda entitled “Towards 2030: Agenda for a Greener Med – Contributing to Achieving the Environmental SDGs in the Mediterranean” (2030GreenerMed) has been formulated by the UfM. This new agenda will be dedicated to support the urgently needed transition to a more sustainable, green and circular economy in the Mediterranean.

Horizon 2020 Initiative for a Cleaner Mediterranean by year 2020 HD 

Published in 2014 the Horizon 2020 video outlines the efforts and results of the Initiative in different parts of the Mediterranean. Video playtime is 48 minutes and 11 seconds and is available in HD format for high quality viewing. The video can also be found on youtube at https://youtu.be/YTaNbpRerpE

Events