Environment in search of a guardrail

SMAP program, launched in 1997, is an environmental component of the Euromed Partnership. Did Lebanon make the most out of it? Lebanese Minister of Environment Akram Chehayeb, speaks of mixed results.

The Barcelona Declaration has forecasted a regional approach of cooperation for the protection of the environment. This is how an action plan called SMAP was put in place, for medium and long-term priorities. Eight years after its elaboration, how can we balance the books of this program?

The SMAP program is a priori good. However, it suffers from implementation problems due to the following reasons:

Priority to the Balkans: the process of enlargement (new countries’ adherence to the European Union) and the Balkans question constitute the European Commission priorities. Result: the financial resources allocated to the Euro-Mediterranean partnership were reduced.

The necessity of creating national commissions: the role of ministries of environment is generally marginalized. To solve this problem, the European Union must encourage national commissions in sustainable development, allocate the necessary funds to create adequate organs and adjust the agreement clauses to the strategies that eventually come to the surface.

More transparency and participation: the issue of transparency and participation should be treated in a more rational way. The participation of civil society in the South and the East of the Mediterranean should be reinforced. It is also important to ensure appropriate plans of action suitable with the NGOs agendas.

The solution for NGOs

It seems clear that the ecologic dimension of the EuroMed partnership did not acquire the attention it deserved, and the SMAP program was not able to fulfill the role of ecologic guardrail of the partnership. In this regard, it is important to explore other mechanisms of creative cooperation.

Ecologists, and particularly NGOs, are calling for the creation of a special agency to manage the ecological portfolio of the partnership. To them, ecological issues should be treated in the framework of a well-structured institution. This involves finding the funds and mechanisms necessary for a proper implementation of these objectives.

Akram Chehayeb
Lebanese former Minister of Environment
(Excerpts from Cahiers Euromed, 2005)

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Amani, Lebanon | 01-09-2009, 12.52h

Unfortunately, the Lebanese environment condition has been deteriorating year after year at a large pace. There are many Lebanese rules dedicated to the protection and maintaining of environment but they are not well implemented nor are any actions taken against aggressors. EU’s SMAP program was another lost opportunity consecutive governments must have grabbed to rescue our environment and to disallow Lebanon from becoming yet another desert.

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I would like to be brief and thank Europa Jaratona program for its achievments in Jordan.

Mohammad Talal Ramini
On: E-TVET reform (Jordan)

It is good to hear that there is someone who really cares about our historical monuments. While reading the article, I was hoping to find so many Tunisian names to make sure that, also, in our country there are people who are hell-bent on preserving what is left of a glorious history. Tunisia, thanks to its location, welcomed many civilizations whose leaders built huge and glorious buildings. Not only in cities near the shores, but also in the far west cities like Sbitla, Kasserin...

I believe that in order to save the surviving monuments, there should be a campaign to make Tunisians aware of the significance of such a loss if those buildings become ruins.

Schhaider
On: Initiatives to preserve Tunisian architecture

I have read this article with cautious and i was not happy of the approaches being written due i guess to lack of real understanding of current environmental issues we are facing. The problem of pollution will not be tackled only through fundings bec most of the money used is not appropriately used and if ever used we seek the traditional methods the old fashion way. We need to look at alternatives , less costs , better and more sustainable output. Waste problems are derived from mass consumerism and lack of understanding of what our lives should mean to us as far as human values and choices we should take in life. Building waste water treatment is needed but what is more needed is eduation and awereness and return to ethics and values. We can keep dumping money on projects but who would assure me that our resources are being well taken care of and not depleted in a fast way? Where is the concept of sustainibility?

Boutros Mouawad
On: Mediterranean pollution “hot spots” under control by 2020?

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