MENELAS 2026 – Nov 09, 2026

    Seventh Meeting of the Mediterranean Network of Law Enforcement Officials relating to MARPOL within the framework of the Barcelona Convention (MENELAS)
    MENELAS 2026
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    The Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC) held the Seventh Meeting of the Mediterranean Network of Law Enforcement Officials relating to MARPOL within the Barcelona Convention’s framework (MENELAS), on 2 and 3 November 2026.

    The Meeting brought together participants from twelve Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention and was held thanks to the financial support from the Mediterranean Trust Fund and the in-kind contribution of the Government of Malta. 

    The Meeting built on the outcomes of the Sixth Meeting of MENELAS (December 2024) and followed up on the conclusions and recommendations of the Sixteenth Meeting of REMPEC Focal Points (May 2025). In particular, participants took note of the intersessional work carried out by the Working Group within MENELAS that led to the development of:

    • a Draft Study on Possible Criteria and Possible Minimum Levels of Fines for Each Offence Provided for under the Annexes to MARPOL, and
    • associated draft Guidelines to ensure the uniform and effective implementation of the draft Decision,

    Both documents formed the core of the discussions during the Meeting. 

    In particular, the draft Study provided an overview of national penalty systems across the Mediterranean and assessed possible criteria and options to help Contracting Parties develop a consistent regional approach to penalties for MARPOL violations, while taking into account the specificities of their national systems. 

    Alongside the Study, draft Guidelines were considered as a practical tool, addressing legal concepts to support the uniform implementation of the draft Decision to apply criteria for a common minimum level of fines for offences under MARPOL Annexes and outlining proposals for practical technical methods for the detection of violations, quantification of the discharges and fines calculation.   

    The Meeting also considered and endorsed amendments to the Common Marine Oil Pollution Detection and Investigation Report, to align pollution classifications more closely with MARPOL substance categories and support consistency and interoperability with reporting tools used by the Bonn Agreement and HELCOM. 

    The Meeting agreed to include the following items in the MENELAS Programme of Activities for the period 2028-2029, subject to the outcome of relevant discussions at the Seventeenth Meeting of REMPEC Focal Points to be held in Malta, tentatively in May 2027: 

    • further work on the consolidated draft Decision, as adjusted, and further consideration of the draft Study and of the associated draft Guidelines as a connected package with the objective to make further progress; 
    • discuss and develop a list of potential regional training and capacity-building activities related to the effective enforcement of the MARPOL Convention, with a particular focus on Annex VI, following consultation with the Contracting Parties to identify the priority areas to be addressed. 

    The Secretariat will inform the Seventeenth Meeting of the Focal Points of REMPEC on the outcome of the discussions and the progress achieved with a view to seeking guidance on future work.

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