Saving the Mediterranean: Med plan and international cooperation

Abstract

The pollution of the Mediterranean environment is a problem common to almost all of the bodies of water on the surface of the earth. What sets the pollution in the Mediterranean Sea apart from any others is that intensive international efforts at overcoming i t have been underway for decades now and w ith considerable success. The Mediterranean Action Plan is the f ir s t example of an extensive regional effort at overcoming marine pollution. Although it has not been able to reverse the damage done to the Mediterranean Sea, i t has nevertheless given rise to a consciousness of pollution and the need fo r controlling i t and consequently has saved the Mediterranean from a doomsday scenario which would otherwise have been awaiting it. Moreover, it is important in that it managed to bring all of the Mediterranean litto ra l countries to the negotiations table despite their differences, though they were many. In this respect, the success achieved in the Mediterranean Action Plan can be base to international environmental cooperation in other environmental issues.