Sub-regional Contingency Plans in the Mediterranean sea
In line with its mandate, REMPEC has supported Mediterranean coastal States in the preparation of sub-regional systems for preparedness and response to major marine pollution incidents. Such sub-regional arrangements for mutual assistance in helping to manage marine pollution emergencies, significantly extends the spill response capacities of individual countries, by providing a mechanism for pooling resources and jointly conducting response operations.
Ramoge between France, Italy, Monaco
The first sub-regional arrangement in the Mediterranean, covering adjacent parts of France, Italy and Monaco (RAMOGE), was signed in 1976. The Ramoge Agreement was subsequently complemented in 1993 with the RamogePOL Plan which defines operational aspects of joint spill response activities. The latter was completely updated in the beginning of 2005. However, it should be noted that the three countries concerned did not require the assistance of REMPEC for either the preparation of the original RamogePOL Plan or for its revision.
Countries: Italy, Monaco, France
Date of signature: RAMOGE Agreement signed in May 1976. Revised agreement signed in 2005
Plan name: RamogePOL Plan
Plan status: In force
Revision: Last revision in 2012, together with a new RAMOGEPOL signed in 2012
Ratification dates: 1/10/2010
Authorities in charge of the implementation of the plan:
- France: Préfecture maritime de la Méditerranée
- Italy: Ministry for the Environment Land and Sea
- Monaco: Conseiller du Gouvernement pour l'Intérieur
Activity related to the implementation of the plan: Annual exercise
Useful links: RAMOGE website
Lion between France and Spain
Countries: France, Spain
Description: Agreement of technical cooperation.
Date of signature: 22 July 2002
Plan: In force
Ratification dates:
Authorities in charge of the implementation of the plan:
- France: Préfecture maritime de la Méditerranée
- Spain: La Sociedad Estatal de Salvamento y Seguridad Marítima (SASEMAR)
Activity related to the implementation of the plan: Exercises are organized by Spain and France alternatively, and carried out yearly
Useful links: Préfecture maritime de la Méditerranée (in French)
South-Eastern Mediterranean between Cyprus, Egypt and Israel
In co-operation with the European Commission (EC), and using financial support provided through LIFE Third Countries financing mechanism, REMPEC completed (1993-1995) groundwork on the development of the “Sub-regional System for combating major marine pollution incidents affecting or likely to affect the territorial sea, coasts and related interests of Cyprus, Egypt and Israel”.
The major result of this project was:
- the preparation of the Sub-Regional Contingency Plan (SCP), covering territorial waters and areas of interest of the three countries concerned,
- the signing in 1995 of the trilateral Agreement on the SCP, which covers the South-Eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea.
Subsequently, the Centre implemented in (1997-2000) a complementary project, also financed through the LIFE Third Countries mechanism of the EC, focusing on the “Development of Spill Response Capabilities of Cyprus, Egypt and Israel” including:
- the development of sensitivity maps for the coastal areas of the three countries
- the development of oil spill modelling within the context of the SCP
- the development of national communication capabilities
- numerous related training activities at national and sub-regional levels
- two comprehensive oil spill response exercises with the deployment of response personnel, equipment and other resources from all three countries.
The Agreement and the Plan has not come into force as yet, as only two of the three Signatories have ratified this Agreement in accordance with their national legislation. However, some activities were carried out in the framework of this agreement.
The SCP for the south-eastern Mediterranean was subsequently used by REMPEC as a model for the development of other SCPs.
Countries: Cyprus, Egypt, Israel
Date of signature: 9 June 1995
Plan status: Not yet in force
Ratification dates:
- Cyprus: November 2001
- Egypt:
- Israel:
Relevant national legislation adopting the plan:
- Cyprus: Law no. 21 (ii) 2001
- Egypt:
- Israel:
Authorities in charge of the implementation of the plan:
- Cyprus: Department of Fisheries and Research (DFMR)
- Egypt: Egyptian Environment Affairs Agency (EEAA)
- Israel: Marine and Coastal Environment Division, Ministry of Environmental Protection
Activity related to the implementation of the plan:
Exercises in Haifa (1999) and Larnaca (1998)
Useful links: Agreement
South-Western Mediterranean between Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia
The South-Western part of the Mediterranean including Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, was the first SCP that REMPEC developed in close co-operation with the national authorities of these three countries between the end of 2001 and early 2005. IMO, through its Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP), provided the financial support to develop this sub-regional system.
Although the plan for south-eastern Mediterranean was used as the model, numerous changes were made in the text of the new Plan, reflecting the situation, institutional arrangements and the existing national systems of the three countries concerned. The “Agreement concerning the Sub-Regional Contingency Plan for the South-Western Mediterranean” was signed in Algiers, on 20 June 2005, and the signing ceremony was followed by the First Meeting of National Operational Authorities for the implementation of the Plan.
The Agreement and the Plan came into force on 19 May 2011.
Countries: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia
Date of signature: 20 June 2005
Plan status: In force since 19 May 2011
Ratification dates:
- Algeria: Décret présidentiel 2 September 2006
- Morocco: 19 April 2011
- Tunisia: 2 November 2006
Authorities in charge of the implementation of the plan:
- Algeria: Ministère de l’Aménagement du Territoire, de l’Environnement et du Tourisme
- Morocco: Département chargé de l'environnement - Direction de la surveillance et de la protection des risques
- Tunisia: Agence Nationale de Protection de l’Environnement (ANPE)
Activity related to the implementation of the plan:
- Launch of the MARCOAST project funded by the Agence Spatiale Européenne (ESA) for Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia 2007.
- Annual meeting of the competent national authorities.
- Participation of RAMOGE representatives at the fifth Meeting of the operational authorities, Algiers November 2018, to introduce RamogePol experience as a first step for further cooperation between both Agreements.
Useful links: Agreement
Adriatic between Croatia, Italy and Slovenia
The Sub-Regional Operational Agreement and the Contingency Plan for the Adriatic, concerning Croatia, Italy and Slovenia were developed under the coordination of REMPEC, between March 2003 and November 2005.
The representatives of the three countries signed the “Agreement on the Sub-Regional Contingency Plan for prevention of, preparedness for and response to major marine pollution incidents in the Adriatic Sea” in Portorož , Slovenia on 9 November 2005, during the 14th Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention (COP14).
This Plan included a new Chapter dealing with preventing pollution from ships likely to cause pollution of the sea. This Chapter was introduced to emphasize the commitment of the Parties to reduce and, as much as possible, eliminate the risk of such incidents in the area covered by the SRCP and included the following points:
- the policy for the prevention of pollution from ships
- the designation of national authorities responsible for the prevention of pollution from ships and of Pollution Prevention Co-ordination Centres (PPCCs)
- organization of meetings of national Pollution Prevention Co-ordination Centres (PPCCs)
- phases of prevention activities and measures
- preliminary activities
- preventive activities
Previous agreements between Croatia, Italy and Slovenia, especially the one involving the coordination of SAR activities and the one establishing the “Mandatory Ship Reporting System - Adriatic Traffic”, created the necessary infrastructure for exchanging information relevant for envisaged pollution prevention activities, thereby expediating the function of this new part of the sub-regional system.
Other Chapters of the Plan made the necessary changes required for the SRCP developed for the south-eastern Mediterranean. Since national contingency plans of the three Parties already addressed both oil spills and spills or releases of other hazardous and noxious substances, it was decided that the SCP would cover these too.
The Agreement and the Plan has not entered into force as yet, as only two of the three signatories have ratified this Agreement, in accordance with their national legislation.
In the near future, it is anticipated that this agreement will be extended to other Adriatic countries.
Countries: Croatia, Italy, Slovenia
Date of signature: 9 December 2005
Plan name: Sub-Regional Contingency Plan for the Prevention of, Preparedness for and Response to Major Marine Pollution Incidents in the Adriatic Sea
Plan status: Not yet in force
The Republic of Italy is still in the process of Agreement ratification
Ratification dates:
- Croatia: 24 October 2008-Law on ratification of the Agreement on the Sub-Regional Contingency Plan for the Prevention of, Preparedness for and Response to Major Marine Pollution Incidents in the Adriatic Sea (OG, IT, 7/08)
- Italy:
- Slovenia: July 2008
Authorities in charge of the implementation of the plan:
- Croatia:
- for the implementation of the Plan: Ministry of Environmental Protection, Physical Planning and Construction
- for Operational responsibility: Ministry of Sea, Transport and Infrastructure (as the seat of the Headquarters for NCP implementation)
- Italy:
- Slovenia: Government Republic of Slovenia
Activity related to the implementation of the plan: Regular meetings to discuss the revision of the Annexes of the plan.
Useful Documents: CIS SRCP (2005)
South-Eastern Mediterranean between Cyprus, Greece and Israel
Countries: Cyprus, Greece and Israel
Date of signature: Nicosia, Cyprus 8 May 2018
Plan name: Sub-regional marine oil pollution contingency plan between Cyprus, Greece and Israel
Plan status: Entered into force on 2 March 2022
Ratification dates:
- Cyprus: 24 April 2021 (Law 4 (III)/2001 (O.G. N. 4273/26-04-21)
- Greece: 17 January 2022 (Law 4878/2022 - Governmental Gazette 3 A'/17-01-2022).
- Israel: 8 May 2018 - Since the Agreement is an implementation act of articles 4 and 17 of the Prevention and Emergency Protocol to the Barcelona Convention, the ratification of the agreement on behalf of Israel, is done by sole signature of the Israeli Minister of Environmental Protection.
Authorities in charge of the implementation of the plan:
- Cyprus: Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment.
- Greece: Marine Environment Protection Directorate, Hellenic Coast Guard, Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy
- Israel: Marine Environment Protection Division, Ministry of the Environmental Protection
Activity related to the implementation of the plan:
Regular meetings to discuss the revision of the Annexes of the plan.
- First Marine Oil Pollution Exercise ‘’SCP Preview’’. Haifa Israel 23-24 October 2017. A tabletop exercise organised by Israel in collaboration Cyprus, Greece and REMPEC during the process of development of the SCP.
- Sub-regional workshop on compensation for oil pollution damage, organised by REMPEC in coordination with DFMR, was the first capacity building activity within the framework of the Plan, Larnaca, Cyprus 4-5 December 2018 delivered by IOPC, ITOPF and the IG of P&I Clubs.
Useful links: Related documents, News
South-Eastern Mediterranean between Cyprus, Egypt and Greece
At the 6th Cyprus- Egypt-Greece Trilateral Summit (Elounda, Crete, 10 October 2018), where a Joint Declaration by Cyprus, Egypt and Greece was adopted, the Heads of State and Government expressed their determination to proceed promptly with, amongst other things, the elaboration and implementation of a Sub – Regional Marine Oil Pollution Contingency Plan (SCP) for preparing for and responding to accidental marine pollution incidents, within the framework of the Barcelona Convention. In this context, the support of REMPEC was officially requested through the UN Environment/Mediterranean Action Plan-Barcelona Convention Secretariat.
Countries: Cyprus, Egypt and Greece
Under development:
- First Meeting of the National Competent Authorities for the Development of the SCP between Cyprus, Egypt and Greece, 9-10 October 2019, Piraeus, Greece
- Second Meeting of the Competent National Authorities for the Development of the Sub-regional Marine Oil Pollution Contingency Plan (SCP) between Cyprus, Egypt and Greece, 20-21 November 2019, Nicosia, Cyprus
Useful links: Related documents, News