Cairo: Acting Minister of Environment and Minister of Local Development Manal Awad announced that Egypt has assumed the presidency of the executive bureau of the Barcelona Convention for a two-year term, alongside its presidency of the Convention itself.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the announcement came during the closing session of the 24th Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention (COP24), hosted by Egypt from 2-5 December with the participation of 21 Mediterranean countries.

Awad stated that the closing session adopted several important decisions, which included reference criteria for the regional climate change activity center to be hosted by Turkey, measures to support specially protected Mediterranean areas, and biodiversity action plans.

The Minister further added that executive decisions have been approved regarding integrated coastal zone management plans, the secretariat's report for the past two years, and the program of work and budget for 2026-2027, during which Egypt will chair the Convention.