The contributions of this volume stem from an international conference held by icef in venice (italy), on 24 - 26 may 2007, which brought together jurists and experts, country delegates, representatives from the eu and the un specialised bodies and the civil society to discuss possible ways to improve and strengthen the protection and the sustainable development of the interconnected mediterranean and black sea ecosystems.
Members of the judiciary and representatives of the competent ministries as well as experts and scholars from universities and research centres were requested to prepare national reports on the actual application, in their countries, of the regulations regarding the protection and sustainable development of these ecosystems. the exchange and comparison of data and experiences among the main actors involved in the protection of the environment at the national, regional and international levels, has allowed identifying priorities and best practices and the most effective strategies of prevention, monitoring and pollution emergency response.