Editorial note

The Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution was the first framework convention negotiated under the auspices of the UNEP Regional Seas Programme. The 1976 Barcelona Convention was revised in 1995. The revised convention, which has not yet entered into force, will be known as the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean. The text reproduced in this volume is the text of the 1976 Convention as revised in 1995.

The Convention encourages Parties to enter into agreements with each other for the promotion of sustainable development, the protection of the environment, the conservation and preservation of natural resources in the Mediterranean (Article 3(2)). The Parties shall individually or jointly take all appropriate measures to prevent, abate, combat and to the fullest extent possible eliminate pollution of the Mediterranean to contribute to its sustainable development (Article 4(1)). The Parties agree to take appropriate measures to pursue the protection of the marine environment and natural resources as an integral part of the development process, meeting the needs of present and future generations (Article 4(2)). In order to protect the environment and contribute to the sustainable development of the Mediterranean, the Parties shall, inter alia, apply the precautionary principle (Article 4(3)(a)), the polluter pays principle (Article 4(3)(b)), and undertake environmental impact assessment for proposed activities likely to cause significant harm (Article 4(3)(c)).