Background Chapter 30 of Agenda 21 stressed the key role of businesses and industries in sustainable development. With the adoption of the Barcelona Convention in 1995 and the establishment of the Euro-Mediterranean free trade zone by 2010, the Maghreb and Mashrek enterprises have to improve their competitiveness. The DELTA programme was launched to raise the environmental awareness and capacity of these enterprises and to establish local networks of environmentally conscious enterprises (the DELTA networks). SBA designed this LIFE project (the Phase III of DELTA) in cooperation with the existing DELTA networks. Objectives The overall objective of the project is the environmental upgrading of enterprises in Maghreb and Mashrek countries. The work will be focused on the enterprises of the following six countries: Algeria, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestinian Territories, Syria, and Turkey. However, all activities in Turkey were cancelled in December 2002. The project’s specific objectives are: · Development of eco-management practices in enterprises; · Institutional strengthening of the DELTA networks; and · Development of individual skills to promote eco-efficiency in the future. Results The project successfully carried out the following: · The adaptation of existing eco-mapping and environmental self-assessment tools to local needs (manuals available in Arabic, French, and English); · The completion of a set of eco-management tools with a new third tool on the environmental monitoring board (manual available in Arabic, French, and English); · Regular dissemination of information through the DELTA networks and the DELTA website; · Training of local experts (focal points in each of the five countries involved in the project) in the implementation if the eco-management tools; and · The introduction of environmental training courses at the University of Balamand in Lebanon and the Ecole Nationale Polytechnique in Algeria. Through these activities, the project has led to an increase in the number of local enterprises involved in environmental management (74 Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) were reported to have used the eco-management tools developed by the project, 66 application cases have been documented) and strengthening of exchanges and cooperation between local stakeholders and industries, notably through the organisation of workshops including visits to enterprises. The project has already contributed to environmental improvements and is expected to lead to more environmental benefits as the eco-management of tools are disseminated. When possible, the project quantified the improvements in terms of sustainable use of raw materials and energy, and has also given an economic estimate of these benefits.