The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in co-operation with the relevant specialized United Nations Agencies (FAQ, WHO, WMO, IOC), presented to the Intergovernmental Meeting of Mediterranean countries (Barcelona, 1975) a proposal for a Co-ordinated Mediterranean Pollution Monitoring and Research Programme (MED POL). MED POL was approved and UNEP was requested to implement the Programme, consisting of seven pilot projects, in close collaboration with the relevant specialized United Nations Agencies. Its pilot phase (MED POL-Phase I) was designed as the precursor of a long-term programme for pollution monitoring and research in the Mediterranean (MED POL-Phase II) to be carried out according to the provisions of the legal component of the Mediterranean Action Plan.