New SMAP activity starts in Jordan

The Regional Euro-Mediterranean Programme for the Environment (SMAP) has announced that Memorandum of Understanding was signed recently with the Ministry of the Environment in Jordan to help the Monitoring and Assessment (M&A) department develop and apply environmental Indicators.

Work is set to begin mid-August with SMAP III Technical Assistance experts using meetings, workshops, training and questionnaires to help M&A identify and use the indicators relevant to them. Jordan’s indicators will feed into the Horizon 2020 Initiative to help monitor and evaluate progress towards de-polluting the Mediterranean Sea.

The Syrian Ministry of the Environment has also expressed an interest in taking part in workshops.

Through the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, the EU has been actively engaged in the improvement of the environment and the promotion of sustainable development activities across the region. The SMAP regional programme was set up with the objectives of reversing the trend of environmental degradation and contributing to the sustainable development of the Mediterranean region. In November 2006, the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership countries adopted a five year work programme which includes the Horizon 2020 Initiative to de-pollute the Mediterranean Sea by 2020.