Cooperation Agreement between IMELS and UNEP
In accordance with the Cooperation Agreement between UNEP and IMELS and relevant mandate, REMPEC has been leading efforts that contribute to the Enhancement of Marine Litter Management which specifically focus on the management of sea-based ship generated marine litter. To look at putting into place incentives, such as the No-Special-Fee system for the use of port reception facility (PRF), for the waste to be discharged at port, rather than at sea, and exploring ways for marinas to ensure adequate provision of PRF and efficient delivery of waste. To achieve the objectives of the mandate, REMPEC has been coordinating and organizing targeted pilots and national meetings in the relevant beneficiary countries under the Cooperation agreement.
As of 31 January 2020, 6 pilots and 3 national meetings have been carried out in the following countries:
- Albania (pilots, national meeting)
- Montenegro (pilots, national meeting)
- Slovenia (pilots, national meeting)
- Bosnia and Herzegovina (national meeting)
The Cooperation Agreement between UNEP and IMELS [The Memorandum of Understanding between the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the Italian Ministry for Environment, Land and Sea Protection (IMELS)] was signed on 14 September 2016 and will remain in force until 31 December 2019.
The purpose of the Cooperation Agreement between IMELS and UNEP, which is funded by Italy, is to provide a framework of cooperation and understanding, and to facilitate collaboration between IMELS and UN Environment / MAP, to further their shared goals and objectives with regards to the implementation of the Barcelona Convention and its Protocols and the delivery of the UN Environment / MAP Medium Term Strategy and biennial Programme of Work.
One of the areas of cooperation of the Cooperation Agreement between IMELS and UNEP relates to the Enhancement of Marine Litter Management. To this end, REMPEC is tasked with coordinating certain activities, which particularly focus on the measures relating to the better management of sea-based litter in ports, in particular the application of charges at reasonable costs for the use of port reception facilities or, when applicable, application of No-Special-Fee System, as well as the provision of reception facilities and the delivery of ship-generated wastes in ports and marinas in the Mediterranean.
Under this topic, REMPEC has been undertaking to:
- Organize regional/ sub regional workshops to share best practices on No-Special-Fee systems, to review the “Draft guidance document developed to determine the application of charges at reasonable costs for the use of port reception facilities or, when applicable, application of No-Special-Fee system” and the “Draft operational Guidelines developed on the provision of reception facilities in ports and the delivery of ship-generated wastes”.
- Implement pilots in relation to the provision of reception facilities in ports and the delivery of ship-generated wastes in one marina per target country, as selected in collaboration with national authorities.