Ratification by Israel of the 2002 Prevention and Emergency Protocol – Oct 15, 2014

On the 10 September 2014, the State of Israel ratified the Protocol concerning Co-operation in Preventing Pollution from Ships and, in Cases of Emergency, Combating Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea (Prevention and Emergency Protocol) to the Barcelona Convention, adopted in 2002.

The Kingdom of Spain, depository of the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean (Barcelona Convention) and its Protocols, officially announced the entry into force, on 10 October 2014, of the Prevention and Emergency Protocol for the State of Israel, according to the Article 33.4 of the Barcelona Convention.

Whilst the 1976 Protocol concerning Co-operation in Combating Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea by Oil and other Harmful Substances in Cases of Emergency (Emergency Protocol) has been adopted by all Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention, the 2002 Prevention and Emergency Protocol which replaced the Emergency Protocol, has now been ratified by 64% (i.e. 14 out of 22) of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention.

The Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC), which inter alia assists Mediterranean coastal States in ratifying, transposing, implementing and enforcing international maritime conventions related to the prevention of, preparedness for and response to marine pollution from ships, welcomes the important step of the Government of Israel and takes this opportunity to invite other Mediterranean coastal States which have not already done so to ratify the 2002 Prevention and Emergency Protocol with a view to ensuring a more effective Co-operation in Preventing Pollution from Ships and, in Cases of Emergency, Combating Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea.