The Barcelona Convention—formally known as the Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution—was established in 1976 as a regional agreement to combat pollution in the Mediterranean. It brings together Mediterranean nations and the European Union in a joint commitment to protect the marine ecosystem through coordinated environmental policies, sustainable practices, and systematic monitoring.

Under Slovenia's presidency since December 2023, the Convention launched a forward-looking work plan for 2024–2025 and introduced the Portorož Declaration, emphasizing the protection of the Mediterranean and boosting climate resilience. A key development has been the alignment of efforts among the Danube River Protection Convention, the Black Sea Protection Convention, and the Barcelona Convention. This cooperation aims to foster regional and sub-regional synergies to enhance the ecological well-being of the broader marine ecosystem.

Crucial to this initiative has been the effective coordination among the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR), the Black Sea Commission, and the UNEP/MAP Secretariat of the Barcelona Convention.

“We have been leveraging the outcomes of the Barcelona Convention to inform our work under the EUSAIR framework, particularly in areas such as the Adriatic Contingency Plan, the Coastal and Marine Protected Areas Network, and in strengthening the resilience of coastal zones and river basins through integrated water and marine management,” said Mitja Bricelj, coordinator of EUSAIR’s Pillar 3.

Youth engagement has also played a pivotal role. The EUSAIR Youth Council took an active part in the thematic workshop “Accelerating Climate Change Adaptation,” held in Corfu, Greece on April 7–8. Looking ahead, the upcoming EUSAIR Forum in Georgioupolis, Crete, will further promote regional cooperation on environmental challenges through a dedicated session titled “Protecting the Marine Environment through Legal Instruments and Prompt Action.”