One feature of the CMS COP, being a global forum, and the AEWA MOP with its wide geographic coverage, is regional coordination, which gives countries from the same region facing the same environmental problems and sharing the same migratory species the opportunity to compare notes, exchange ideas, try to adopt common positions and agree concerted efforts to secure the adoption of beneficial policies. Particularly smaller delegations might use regional coordination as a means of dividing labour with two delegates agreeing to attend different Working Groups but undertaking to represent each other’s interests. This does not mean that delegates can only collaborate with other delegates from the same region.

A special case is the European Union, the only regional economic integration organization (REIO) that is a Member State to a number of CMS Family instruments. The delegations of the EU countries meet regularly throughout the meetings they attend to coordinate their positions to the items under discussion.