UNEP(DEC)MED WG

UNEP(DEC)/MED WG.268/12
Annex III
Page 1
STATE OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SPA PROTOCOL
General introduction
In anticipation of the Seventh Meeting of Focal Points concerning the implementing
of the Protocol on Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity in the
Mediterranean, to be held in Seville, from 31 May to 3 June 2005, RAC/SPA asked
the Parties to the SPA Protocol to prepare national reports showing the progress
made in implementing the Protocol in their respective countries, according to a
format suited to the reporting system established in the context of the Barcelona
Convention.
Countries that sent in reports
The twenty following countries sent in their reports to RAC/SPA on the date set:
Albania, Algeria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Israel, Italy,
Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Morocco, Monaco, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia, Spain,
Syria, Tunisia and Turkey.
Three countries (Italy, Cyprus and Turkey) each sent a first report followed by a
second, fuller report.
Format adopted when presenting reports
According to the previously-indicated format, the information was to be presented as
a summary that should be no longer than six pages. This was not always respected
by all the countries. The period that was to be covered by the national reports was
that between the Sixth Meeting of Focal Points (Marseilles, 17-20 June 2003) and the
Seventh Meeting, planned for Seville from 31 May to 3 June 2005, i.e. the inter
meeting period extending from March 2003 to March 2005. In some cases longer
period was covered to give the full picture (see Annex I).
According to the correspondence sent by RAC/SPA to the Focal Points about
preparing reports on the national aspect of the implementing of the SPA Protocol, the
reports were to be based on four main lines, i.e.:
- a first part for general information, especially on the identity and function of the
writer of the report, and the national organisations and/or bodies that contributed
by providing pertinent information
- a second part describing the administrative and legislative steps taken, according
to the terms of the Protocol, over the biennial period (2004-2005)
- a third part for information on how far implementation of the Protocol had
proceeded at the technical level
- a fourth part where a description of the possible problems and constraints met
when implementing the Protocol had been requested.