Damascus, April 28 (SANA) Syria took part in a regional meeting on transboundary environmental assessments held in Greece on April 23–24 to discuss cooperation on shared environmental challenges in the Mediterranean.
The Third Sub-regional Meeting on Environmental Assessments in a Transboundary Context in the Mediterranean Sea, organized by Greece in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme’s Mediterranean Action Plan and the Barcelona Convention, focused on environmental impact assessment, strategic planning and marine protection.
Syria was represented by officials from the Ministry of Local Administration and Environment, including Director of Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Asaad Olabi and Director of Environmental Safety Rateb Ramadan.
The ministry said in a statement that Syria emphasized the need to develop an integrated national system for strategic environmental assessment and incorporate it into national planning. It also called for closer cooperation with neighboring countries and international organizations to address cross-border environmental challenges, particularly in coastal and marine areas.
On the sidelines, the Syrian delegation held bilateral meetings with participating countries and a World Bank representative, who outlined funding opportunities in the water and energy sectors. Discussions also covered support for capacity building and the development of regulatory frameworks.
Participants said the meeting highlighted the need to strengthen cooperation among Mediterranean countries, improve data-sharing mechanisms and expand international funding for environmental initiatives.
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