On 11–12 December 2025, PAP/RAC hosted a two-day retreat of contributors to the Guidelines for Coastal Plans at its premises in Split, Croatia. The meeting brought together leading experts and authors involved in the preparation of the Guidelines, developed under the framework of the Barcelona Convention and its Protocol on Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM).
The retreat was conceived as an intensive working meeting, aimed at conducting an in-depth review of the draft Guidelines, strengthening their methodological coherence, and ensuring their practical relevance for Mediterranean countries. Discussions focused on refining the structure of the document, clarifying key concepts, and reinforcing cross-cutting themes essential for effective coastal planning.
Opening the meeting, Ms Daria Povh Škugor, Director of PAP/RAC, underlined that the Guidelines are intended as a flexible and practical methodological tool, rather than a prescriptive or legally binding instrument. She emphasised the need for the document to reflect the realities faced by national and local administrations, including institutional constraints, limited resources and complex governance settings, while still promoting the principles and obligations of the ICZM Protocol.
The review of the Guidelines was facilitated by Mr Brian Shipman, who introduced the proposed structure and the five ICZM-based planning steps. Participants highlighted the importance of clearly positioning coastal plans as integrative governance instruments that complement existing legal and planning frameworks, rather than replacing them. Strengthening the introductory sections to better articulate the benefits of coastal plans—such as risk reduction, climate resilience, landscape preservation and improved quality of life—was identified as a key priority.
Governance emerged as a central theme throughout the discussions. Participants stressed that successful coastal planning depends not only on technical quality, but also on strong institutional coordination, clear mandates, political ownership, and negotiation among stakeholders. The retreat included detailed discussions of each planning step, as well as thematic sessions on coastal risks, NGO and stakeholder engagement, and gender and inclusion. Contributions highlighted the growing importance of climate-related risks in Mediterranean coastal zones, the role of civil society in participatory planning processes, and the need to embed gender considerations throughout all stages of coastal planning.
The outcomes of the retreat will directly inform the next revision of the Guidelines for Coastal Plans, bringing the document closer to completion and enhancing its relevance, coherence and usability for Mediterranean countries. The revised draft will subsequently be submitted to the UNEP review process.
