6th REMPEC Focal Points Meeting

  • When Feb 12, 2003 to Feb 15, 2003
  • Where Malta
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The Meeting of the Focal Points of the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC) was convened in Malta from 12 to 15 February 2003, pursuant to the decision of the Twelfth Ordinary Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention which agreed that a Meeting of REMPEC's Focal Points be organized in 2002/2003 (UNEP (DEC)/MED IG.13/8, Monaco, November 2001).

The main objectives of the Focal Points' Meeting were: (a) to examine the implementation of the programme of activities of REMPEC for the period 2000- 2002; (b) to review the process of ratification of the new 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; (c) to discuss and propose the strategy for the prevention of and response to the pollution of the marine environment from sea based activities, for the period 2004-2014; (d) to discuss and propose the programme of priority activities of REMPEC for the biennium 2004-2005.

All REMPEC official Focal Points were invited to participate in the Meeting. In view of the fact that this Meeting of REMPEC Focal Points was the first one organized after the adoption of the Prevention and Emergency Protocol, and in order to enhance the discussion of these new issues and to ensure the quality of decisions taken in the field of prevention of pollution from ships, REMPEC requested each Party to the Barcelona Convention to ensure that each delegation is composed of at least two representatives: one representing the authorities responsible for the environment and the other one representing the authorities in charge of maritime affairs.  Contracting Parties where also invited to include in their delegations the representatives of their respective oil, chemical and shipping industries. The invitation to attend the Meeting was also extended to relevant United Nations Organizations and other Governmental and Non-Governmental Organizations.  Finally, the representatives of international professional organizations and associations were invited to attend as observers.

The Meeting was attended by delegations from the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention; by representatives from the United Nations Organizations; from Regional Activity Centres of MAP; from non-governmental organizations, MAP partners, from other non-governmental organizations; and by  representatives of other organizations.

The documents of the Meeting can be downloaded from the following list: