3rd Offshore Protocol Working Group Meeting, Attard, Malta, 17-18 June 2014 – Jun 17, 2014

    The 3rd Offshore Protocol Working Group Meeting is being organized by the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre fort the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC) in co-ordination with the United Nations Environment Programme/Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP) within the framework of the Ecosystem Approach in the Mediterranean Project (EcAp MED).

    The Meeting is being convened pursuant to the Decision IG.20/12 of the 17th Ordinary Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention (Paris, France, 8-10 February 2012).

    The principal objectives of the Meeting will be:

    • To review the Draft Action Plan for the implementation of the Protocol     for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution Resulting from Exploration and Exploitation of the Continental Shelf and the Seabed and its Subsoil (Offshore Protocol), (an initial draft is currently being prepared and will be circulated as soon as finalized);
    • To discuss the working arrangements of the Barcelona Convention Offshore Oil and Gas Group (BARCO –OFOG Group) as requested in the Decision IG.21/8 of the 18th Ordinary Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention (Istanbul, Turkey, 3-6 December 2013); and
    • To address necessary partnerships with other organizations, industry and other actors to be established including the MAP Partners to support in the framework of the BARCO –OFOG Group the successful implementation of the Offshore Protocol.

    Offshore Focal Points and Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) Focal Points have been invited to nominate jointly and in consultation with all national authorities concerned their representatives in the Meeting.  The participation in national delegations of observers representing the oil offshore exploration and production industries has been strongly encouraged. The invitation to attend the Meeting was also extended to the specialized agencies of the United Nations, other governmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as to the international professional organizations and associations whose activities are relevant for the work of the Offshore Protocol Working Group.

    All documents and presentations as well as the report are available on REMPEC’s event page.