Slovenian Presidency

Slovenia will host the 23rd Meeting of the Parties to the Barcelona Convention from 4 to 8 December 2023 in Portorož. On this occasion, Slovenia will take over the two-year Presidency of the Convention for the period 2024-2025.

The Presidency slogan For a Green Mediterranean: from plans to action emphasises the transition towards the implementation of the decisions taken to achieve sustainable development in the Mediterranean and to make the green transition a reality. As a Contracting Party, Slovenia aims to promote an ecosystem approach to development planning by reinforcing the importance of blue and green corridors in spatial planning and management for the conservation of coastal and marine biodiversity and ecosystem services.

The main tasks of the Slovenian Presidency will be related to marine protected areas, integrated coastal zone management and maritime spatial planning, updates of emergency plans and increasing resilience to climate change.

In November 2005, Slovenia successfully hosted the Barcelona Convention for the first time in Portorož; under the banner The Sea Needs Our Voice, the participants of the 14th session adopted the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development and presented the European Marine Strategy. A sub-regional agreement between Slovenia, Italy and Croatia for the prevention of accidents at sea and the remedy of pollution consequences was also signed.