Supported by the European Commission, the European Investment Bank (EIB), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the World Bank, the Mediterranean Environmental Technical Assistance Program (METAP) was established in 1990 to bring together the Mediterranean countries to cope with and reduce the effects of environmental degradation. Between 1990 and 1995, METAP?s first two phases mobilized over US$32.0 million for activities that identified investment projects, strengthened capacity in national and local environmental institutions, promoted sustainable environmental policy actions, and created the first professional networks in the region. Those activities have also influenced or resulted in US$1.6 billion in on-going or planned World Bank or EIB investment projects.