Download the report (available only in English): PDF

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) convened the subregional consultations on the second GFCM performance review for the western, central and eastern Mediterranean  subregions in Cairo on 23 June 2019. This was done in the context of the second GFCM performance review, which ultimately aims at addressing developments that took place since 2011, when the first GFCM performance review was completed. An independent panel of experts was appointed before the consultations with a view to addressing key areas of GFCM performance (legal/institutional and scientific, as relating to both fisheries and aquaculture) and it was in attendance. The members of the panel sought in particular the views of contracting parties and cooperating non-contracting parties (CPCs) and non-contracting parties from the subregions and non-governmental organizations(NGOs) (Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, European Union, France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Morocco, Spain, Slovenia, Tunisia, Turkey, Jordan and Saudi Arabia), in addition to those of the GFCM Secretariat. The meeting consisted of discussion sessions arranged by topic, spearheaded by a technical presentation delivered by the GFCM Secretariat providing background information on the second GFCM performance review. The independent panel contributed to the moderation of the discussions, with the support of the GFCM Secretariat, referring to a questionnaire it prepared beforehand to facilitate the elaboration and submission of inputs by CPCs. Discussions during the meeting were broken down under relevant technical and scientific aspects and legal and institutional aspects. In discussing the GFCM performance, delegates highlighted aspects where the work of the GFCM could be allegedly improved. It was stressed that the vast majority of comments provided during the consultations was preliminary, whilst more detailed observations will be provided by CPCs replies to the questionnaire.