Maritime pollution, Mediterranean Sea, Barcelona Convention: dumping from ships and aircraft

PURPOSE : to accept the amendments to the Barcelona Convention and to the Protocol relating to the prevention of pollution by dumping from ships and aircraft. COMMUNITY MEASURE : Council Decision 1999/802/EC on the acceptance of amendments to the Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution and to the Protocol for the Prevention of Pollution by Dumping from Ships and Aircraft (Barcelona Convention). CONTENT : the Community is a Contracting Party to the Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution since 1977. It has concluded a number of protocols in the framework of working towards the prevention of pollution in the marine environment. The Commission took part, on behalf of the Community, in the negotiations on the revision of the Barcelona Convention and the Protocol for the Prevention of Pollution by Dumping from Ships and Aircraft. The objective of this decision is to allow the Community to approve the various amendments made both to the Convention and the Protocol in accordance with procedures provided by the Treaty. For the most part, the amendments aim to protect the environment, to contribute to the sustainable development of the Mediterranean Sea, and to support the biodiversity of this region. In addition, the new Protocol seeks to prevent, reduce, and, as far as possible, eliminate pollution arising from dumping from ships and aircraft. ENTRY INTO FORCE : the decision shall take effect on 22.10.1999, the date of entry into force of the amendments to the Convention requiring to be published by the Secretariat General of the Council once all the necessary notifications to this effect have been completed. �