Date of establishment and legal framework: the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean of the FAO (GFCM) is an inter-governmental organization established under Article XIV of the FAO Constitution and part of the UN System. The GFCM Agreement was registered with the Secretariat of the United Nations on 5 April 1952 under No. 1691. Amendments were approved by the Twelfth Session of the FAO Conference (1963). At its Thirteenth Session (July 1976), the GFCM adopted further amendments to its Agreement which were approved by the Seventieth Session of the FAO Council (1976). At its Twenty-second Session held in Rome from 13 to 16 October 1997, the GFCM adopted two sets of amendments which were approved by the FAO Council at its 113th Session (1997). The first set of amendments concerned changes inter alia to allow for regional economic integration organizations that are Members of FAO to become members of GFCM and to change the name of GFCM into "General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean" (it was previously a Council). The second set of amendments came into force on 29 April 2004, on their acceptance by two-thirds of the Members of the Commission and thereafter for each Member on its acceptance thereof. A new amendment process is currently ongoing as a result of the performance review of the GFCM carried out in the 2009-2011 biennium.
Objectives of organization: to promote the development, conservation, rational management and best utilization of living marine resources and marine ecosystems where they are found, as well as the sustainable development of aquaculture in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. In addition, as it was created according to Article XIV of the FAO Constitution, the GFCM share the same goals of the FAO and it therefore contributes to promote, within its regional remit, sustainable development, food security and poverty eradication.
Main activities and major achievements: the GFCM is one of the most storied FAO bodies and celebrated 60 years of existence in 2012; it is among the very few organizations promoting cooperation in common issues in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, where coastal States with very different backgrounds are found and is open to all States Members of the FAO; it has a solid body of conservation and management measures adopted to protect marine living resources; it convenes many technical meetings on annual basis which pioneer the development of sustainable fisheries and aquaculture and the protection of marine ecosystems at regional and sub-regional level; it focuses on technical assistance and capacity building towards GFCM developing countries; it has a dynamic and evolving framework ideal for the implementation of recent developments and commitments such as those agreed upon at the "Rio +20".
Description of Personnel Involved in the Project
srourAbdellah Srour

Executive Secretary. He is a Fisheries Engineer specialized in population dynamic and management of fisheries. He has served the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) as Deputy Executive Secretary from 2005 until 2011, when he became the Executive Secretary of the Commission.

Contact Details
Official address: GFCM HQ, Palazzo Blumenstihl - 2nd floor, Via Vittoria Colonna, 100193, Rome, Italy
T: (+39) 06 57055766  F: (+39) 06 57055827 , E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., W: http://www.gfcm.org

Contact person responsible for the organisation of the project’s work (the coordinator): Name: Nicola Ferri, E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
As the Commission’s in-house science service, the Joint Research Centre’s mission is to provide EU policies with independent, evidence-based scientific and technical support throughout the whole policy cycle. Working in close cooperation with policy Directorates-General, the JRC addresses key societal challenges while stimulating innovation through developing new methods, tools and standards, and sharing its know-how with the Member States, the scientific community and international partners. Key policy areas include: environment and climate change; energy and transport; agriculture and food security; health and consumer protection; information society and digital agenda; safety and security, including nuclear; all supported through a cross-cutting and multi-disciplinary approach.
Description of Personnel Involved in the Project
baraleVittorio Barale
Graduated in Physics (1977) from the University of Milan and then received both his MS (1982) and PhD (1986) in Marine Sciences at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California at San Diego. Since 1990 he has been with the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. His research focuses on the ecological assessment of marginal and enclosed seas, and their coastal margins in particular, primarily using remote sensing techniques. In recent years, he has been involved in the development of both Integrated Coastal Management and Maritime Spatial Planning concepts at the European Union level.
Contact Details
Official address: Institute for Environment and Sustainability (IES), Unit H.01 Water Resources (WRU)
Office 27B 02/120 – T.P. 272, Via E. Fermi 2749, I-21027 Ispra (VA), Italy
T: (+39) 0332 789274  F: (+39) 0332 789034, E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  W:  

Contact person responsible for the organisation of the project’s work (the coordinator): Name: Vittorio Barale, E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The Regional Advisory Council for the Mediterranean (RAC MED- CCR MED) is a stakeholder-led organization and its role is to enable the European Commission to benefit from the knowledge and experience of stakeholders in the formulation and implementation of fisheries management measures. The creation of the RAC's is one of the pillars of the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy of 2002. The RAC MED is composed by representatives from the fishing sector, producer organizations, ship owners, small-scale fishermen, processors, and it is composed by other parties concerned with the Common Fisheries Policy such as environmental organizations, aquaculture producers, consumers and recreational fishermen of its eight Member States (Italy, France, Spain, Slovenia, Greece, Malta and Cyprus and Croatia).
The RAC MED has the aim to decide on and present, on behalf of its members, opinions on fisheries management in the Mediterranean Sea in order to contribute to the achievement of the CFP, as established in art. 2 of the Council regulation (EC) no. 2371/2002 and, thus, guarantee a sustainable fisheries management.  The RAC MED also has the purpose of drawing up recommendations aimed at improving the application of the European legislation in the Mediterranean for the relevant fishery undertakings, and any other activity necessary to carry out and achieve their objectives.
Description of Personnel Involved in the Project

caggianoRosa Caggiano

Executive Secretary of the RAC MED since January 2011. She is responsible for the day-to-day work of the Mediterranean RAC upon mandate of the President. She has been working in the fisheries sector since 2002, international relations at the Italian Fisheries Department, Ministry of Agriculture Food and Forestry Policies (MiPAAF) as assistant in an international fisheries context with the task of following negotiations and the ratification of International agreements, such as Eurofish. From 2007-2008 she worked as Policy officer Market and Supply Policies- SNE (Seconded National Expert). She contributed to and assisted in the implementation and the development of the market and trade-related parts of the Common Fisheries Policy. She participates in session of the Management Committee set up to assist the Commission in the implementation of market policies. She established contacts and entered into a dialogue with Member States authorities on all issues of relevance (eco-labelling, certification, traceability).

Contact Details
Official address: Via Nazionale 243 scala A interno 3, 00184 Roma
T: (+39 )06 48913624 F: (+39 )06 60513259 , E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., W: http://www.racmed.eu/

Contact person responsible for the organisation of the project’s work (the coordinator): Name: Rosa Caggiano, E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change has been established in order to confront the continuous environmental problems and to adopt a new development model – the model of Green Development- that will secure a better quality of life for every citizen.
The Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change works to achieve the protection of the natural environment and resources, the improvement of quality of life, the mitigation and adjustment to the implications of climate change and the enhancement of mechanisms and institutions for environmental governance.
The Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change in order to achieve its Mission, has developed a strategic plan based on 4 pillars amplified into strategic objectives.

PILLAR 1
Combating Climate Change by moving towards a competitive economy of low carbon consumption.

Strategic Objectives
  • Improve energy efficiency
  • Increase the share of our country’s energy use from renewable sources and natural gas, whilst ensuring the reliability of energy supplies.
  • Secure consumers the provision of reliable energy products and services
  • Promote green products, sustainable production and consumption patterns
PILLAR 2
Natural resource protection and environmental enhancement
  • Protect and promote Biodiversity and the natural landscape
  • Ensure the effective management and protection of water resources
  • Effective management and protection of our forests
  • Environmental Crises prevention and effective risk management
PILLAR 3
Improve quality of life with respect to the environment
  • Urban Regeneration
  • Improve air quality and soundscape
  • Enhance accessibility and sustainable mobility for all
  • Efficient waste management and promotion of recycling
PILLAR 4
Enhancement of environmental governance mechanisms and processes
  • Strengthen the planning system in order to ensure policy cohesion
  • Simplify and code environmental legislation whilst strengthening its enforcement mechanisms
  • Promote environmental research, innovative technologies and accessibility to environmental information
  • Enable environmental accountability and volunteerism

The Ministry will implement a series of actions in collaboration with public administration, the private sector, social partners, citizens and international community, in order to achieve the strategic objectives and eventually establish the pillars of Green Development.
The Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change was established following  the Decision of the Prime Minister N. 2876 on October 7th 2009. 
Formerly, the Ministry was under the name of "Ministry of Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works".

Description of Personnel Involved in the Project
Contact Details

Official address: 17 Amaliados str., 11523 Athens, Greece
T: +  F: + , E:  , W:    http://www.ypeka.gr/

Contact person responsible for the organisation of the project’s work (the coordinator): Name: Athena Mourmouris E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

About Us


ADRIPLAN aims to deliver a commonly-agreed approach to cross-border MSP in the Adriatic-Ionian region, considered as a whole and more specifically through two Focus Areas (Northern Adriatic Sea; Southern Adriatic / Northern Ionian Sea).