50th Anniversary High-Level Meeting

As the year 2026 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC), a High-Level Meeting is being organised on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary celebrations of the Centre, with the theme “Our Mediterranean – Our Responsibility”.

Established on 11 December 1976, then known as the Regional Oil Combating Centre (ROCC), by the decision of the Contracting Parties, with the mandate to strengthen the capacities of coastal States in the Mediterranean region and to facilitate co-operation among them in order to combat massive marine pollution by oil, particularly by developing national capacities to combat oil pollution and by establishing a regional information system with a view to dealing with marine pollution emergencies, there is no doubt that REMPEC has come a very long way since its inception. The Centre’s mandate was further extended over the years in conformity with the decisions of the Contracting Parties with a view to addressing relevant emerging issues and the respective global developments with a particular focus on preventive measures against pollution from ships. In 1989, the name of the Centre was changed to the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC) and continued to be administered by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in cooperation with Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).  

This commemorative event, to be held on 6 October 2026, is being organised within the framework of the Malta Maritime Summit, to take place from 5 to 9 October 2026, and is intended primarily in bringing together all nations bordering the Mediterranean Sea under one forum and with one clear objective, to collaborate in protecting the Mediterranean Sea.

It is also to be noted that the Regional Expert Meeting on the possible designation of the Mediterranean as a Nitrogen Oxides Emission Control Area (Med NO_X ECA), hereinafter referred to as the “Regional Experts Meeting”, will be held between 7 and 8 October 2026.  

This event, coupled with the fact that it is taking place within the framework of the Malta Maritime Summit, will be attended by high level representatives and maritime executives from the Mediterranean coastal States, Ministers, UNEP MAP, IMO and REMPEC Partners and former Directors/Head of Office. 

At this High-Level Meeting, an interactive ministerial-level policy review session will take place.  

Access the Provisional Programme