During the workshop it was emphasised that, on the basis of the Report of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC),climatic changes had a very unfavourable influence on the Mediterranean region and that in the period to come the more intensive occurrence of phenomena such as raising the sea level, occasional severe drought, decrease of rainfalls followed by reduction in river flows, saltwater intrusion as well as intensive rainfall causing floods and erosion in the short period was expected.  

With regard to that, the need for urgent action was emphasised in order to decrease the possibility  of the aforementioned phenomena which, inter alia, directly influence the quality and quantity of drinking water  and thus the people’s health. In addition, the concern was expressed that climatic changes might influence the agriculture production, energy sector, fishing, tourism and infrastructure development.

It was assessed that capacities of Mediterranean countries for facing climatic changes were restricted for a number of reasons, despite the fact that that there were several regional and national initiatives and programmes dealing the issue, but in general – there were no unique action in the European-Mediterranean region that would unify and implement common objectives and actions.

Participant of the meeting were addressed by the following: Mr Evangelos Meimarakis, Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament, Mr Yiannis Maniatis, Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change of the Hellenic Republic, Ms Dionysia-Theodora Avgerinopoulou,Chair at the COMPSUD and Chairperson of the Committee on Environmental Protection of the Hellenic Parliament and Mr Dimitris Kourkoulas Assistant Minister of the Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Government Republic.

The aim of the workshop was better informing of MPs on the current and forthcoming initiatives and programmes on climatic changes and varieties and their influence on the Mediterranean region as well as their connection with programmes for water and environment. In addition, the aim of the workshop was the exchange of  experiences and ideas  among MPs and other interested bodies on how MPs can enhance their involvement and contribution to promoting of  priorities at regional and national levels.

The regional workshop for MPs was preceded by the “10^th meeting of the Circle of Mediterranean Parliamentarians for Sustainable Development (COMPSUD)”, during which the importance of the cooperation framework of MPs from the Mediterranean region was emphasised and it was agreed the next COMPSUD meeting to be held in 2014.