Mandate

Background

The “Regional Oil Combating Centre” (ROCC) was originally established in 1976 by the decision of the Contracting Parties to create a mandate to strengthen the capacities of coastal States in the Mediterranean region.   The aim was to facilitate better cooperation between these States in managing massive marine pollution oil spills, developing national strategies to combat oil pollution, establishing a regional information system that could effectively and swiftly manage marine pollution emergencies.

Over the years the mandate was extended, enabling ROCC to address pressing issues and respective global developments and also to manage preventive action concerning marine pollution from ships, thus, to pre-empt and not just to respond to pollution incidents.  In 1989, the name of the Centre was changed to the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC). REMPEC is administered by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in cooperation with the Mediterranean Action Plan of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP/MAP). 

In 2001, with the intention of adopting the new Protocol concerning Cooperation in Preventing Pollution from Ships and, in Cases of Emergency, combating Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea (Prevention and Emergency Protocol, 2002), the Contracting Parties reaffirmed the involvement of the Centre in activities relating to prevention of, preparedness for and responses to marine pollution.

REMPEC'S mandate was last updated in November 2009.

Objective and mission Statement

REMPEC's objective is to contribute to preventing and reducing pollution from ships and combating pollution in case of emergency. In this respect, the mission of REMPEC is to assist the Contracting Parties in meeting their obligations under Articles 4(1), 6 and 9 of the Barcelona Convention; the 1976 Emergency Protocol; the 2002 Prevention and Emergency Protocol and implementing the Regional Strategy for Prevention of and Response to Marine Pollution from Ships (2016-2021), adopted by the Contracting Parties in 2016, which key objectives and targets are reflected in the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development (MSSD). The Centre will also assist the Contracting Parties which so request in mobilizing the regional and international assistance in case of an emergency under the Offshore Protocol.