The 21st Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean (Barcelona Convention) andits Protocols will take place on 2-5 December 2019 in Castel dell’Ovo, a seaside historical castle located on the Gulf of Naples. 

Media participation in COP21 is subject to accreditation by the UNEP/MAP—Barcelona Convention Secretariat. Accreditation is strictly reserved for members of the press – print media, photo, radio, TV, film and news agencies – who fully meet UN media accreditation requirements.

1. Accreditation

Accreditation will be granted upon presentation of valid press credentials, including:

  1. a completed accreditation form;
  2. a letter of assignment on official letterhead of a media organization signed by the Publisher/Assignment Editor, Editor-in-chief or Bureau Chief, specifying the name and functional title of the journalist. Unsigned letters or e-mails will not be accepted;
  3. a photocopy of a valid press card/work pass;
  4. a photocopy of passport.

Press passes can be picked up at the registration counter at the COP21 venue upon presentation of ID (passport, official national press pass, driver’s license, work ID, etc.). Please note that journalists accredited to cover the meetings should make their own travel and hotel bookings. Accreditation requests (accreditation form and required documents) should be sent by email to [email protected], copying [email protected], no later than 25 November 2019.

2. Financial support (Application Deadline: 25 October 2019)

Financial support may be provided for up to 10 professional journalists from Mediterranean countries. Applications for financial support will be considered on a first-come-first-served basis and in light of the following selection criteria:

  • Track record of coverage of environmental affairs in the Mediterranean region;
  • Media outlets in which the applicant intends to publish articles and other types of content produced at COP21;
  • Gender balance – applications from female journalists are strongly encouraged.

The need for financial support must be indicated in the “financial support section” of the accreditation form. Applicants are requested to specify the media outlets that will publish articles and other types of content produced at COP21.

Applicants for financial support are required to submit their accreditation requests (as indicated above) no later than25 October 2019.

Important notice

  • Selected journalists will be issued with an invitation letter from the UNEP/MAP—Barcelona Convention Secretariat to facilitate Visa applications, where applicable.
  • Travel will be arranged by the UNEP/MAP —Barcelona Convention Secretariat.
  • Selected journalists will be responsible for booking their own accommodation in Naples.