Horizon projects, the state of the art of financed de-pollution projects

Horizon 2020 is engaging in a survey to establish the impact of de-pollution investment projects funded under the programme. A meeting held in Barcelona agreed that factual knowledge of the status of the depollution investment projects that have already secured financing, would be of great value. 

This will allow for a more holistic overview of executed, ongoing and planned pollution reduction projects in the southern and eastern Mediterranean, and also help evaluate the positive impact that these projects had on reducing pollution into the Mediterranean Sea. 

The aim of the assignment is to obtain information on the progress achieved on projects that have already secured funding. At this stage there are 50 of them. This will include useful information on the time needed at every phase of the implementation process, what aspects have impacted the preparation, implementation or operation, positively and negatively, and if completed, whether the projects demonstrate a tangible level of sustainability as well as a clear pollution reduction impact.

The initial survey of the ‘financing secured’ project and accompanied snapshot of these projects will be completed before the end of 2013. The Horizon 2020 initiative aims to improve the quality of life of more than 420 million citizens living in the 25 countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea.

It is an umbrella programme drawing together all the policies, strategies and action plans for enhancing environmental protection.  Horizon 2020 has mechanisms in capacity-building, research, monitoring and review that place the initiative in an excellent position to address the challenges it faces and ensure the efficient and effective use of the available resources.

The inclusion of the Horizon 2020 Initiative as one of the six components of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) adds to the political impetus to address major environmental challenges.