The mandate of Dr. Mario Šiljeg, Director of the Josip Juraj Strossmayer Water Institute, has been confirmed for the period 2026–2027 as a member of the Committee for the Implementation of the Barcelona Convention within the framework of the United Nations Environment Programme and the Mediterranean Action Plan system.
The Committee is an expert body within the Barcelona Convention system, the most significant international agreement dedicated to the protection of the Mediterranean Sea and coastal areas. Through this framework, Mediterranean countries and the European Union jointly develop policies and measures aimed at protecting the sea, waters, coastlines, and sensitive ecosystems facing increasing pressures from climate change, pollution, and intensified spatial use.
UNEP, the United Nations Environment Programme, is the leading global UN organization for environmental and sustainable development issues. Through the UNEP/MAP system, activities for the protection of the Mediterranean — one of the world’s most ecologically sensitive and economically important marine regions — have been coordinated for decades.
The Committee for the Implementation of the Barcelona Convention has an expert and advisory role in strengthening the implementation of international environmental obligations by member states. Its work involves international experts in environmental law, water management, marine protection, climate policy, and sustainable development, with the aim of promoting more effective protection of the Mediterranean marine and coastal environment. Members of the Committee for the 2026–2027 mandate include experts from various Mediterranean countries, including representatives of international institutions, academia, and bodies involved in the implementation of environmental policies at the Mediterranean level.
For the Institute, this appointment represents additional confirmation of its growing international recognition and increasing involvement in expert processes related to water protection, marine environmental protection, and sustainable management of natural resources.
The appointment also builds upon the Director’s previous international activities related to water, environmental, and sustainable development issues, including participation in international forums and activities within the United Nations system, further confirming the visibility of Croatian expertise in international environmental protection and natural resource management processes.
More information about the composition of the Committee is available on the official website of the Mediterranean Action Plan system at the following link.
