18. Ordinary Meeting of the Parties to the Convention and Protocol for the Protection of the Marine Environment and Coastal Areas of the Mediterranean Sea

The 18th Meeting of the Parties to the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and Coastal Areas of the Mediterranean Sea and its Additional Protocols (COP18 Istanbul) was organized by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization (MoEU) at the Istanbul Congress Center on 3 - 6 December 2013. Countries Parties meet every two years to review the implementation of the Barcelona Convention and its Protocols, decide on the work program and approve program budgets.

During the meeting, Ministerial discussions were held on legal issues, progress made between 2012 and 2013 was reviewed and important decisions were taken on future actions and the continuation of the action-oriented United Nations Environment Programme Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP) to promote sustainable development and improve the marine and coastal environment in the Mediterranean Region.

TÜBİTAK MAM Environment and Cleaner Production Institute (ÇTÜE) was represented with a stand in the foyer area at the invitation of the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, which organized the COP18 Istanbul Meeting. During the booth work carried out by ÇTÜE Business Development and Promotion Officer, Marine and Inland Waters Group researchers and representatives from the research vessel R/V TÜBİTAK Marmara Unit, poster presentations of the "marine pollution, monitoring and decision support" themed projects carried out by ÇTÜE were made and the research vessel was introduced through the R/V TÜBİTAK Marmara model and technical brochures. National and international guests, including officials and managers of the MoEU, COP18 national delegates, representatives of the UN Development Program and the UN Mediterranean Water Institute, were provided with detailed information on the Institute's working areas, capacities and project portfolio.