At the 16th Meeting of the REMPEC Focal points, held in Sliema (Malta) on 13-15 May, the CEI-led ASAP project ADRIATIC SENSITIVE AREAS PROTECTION – MECHANISM was well represented by the CEI-Executive Secretariat (CEI-ES), and by relevant partners, the Slovenian Maritime Administration, the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure of Croatia, the Adriatic Training and Research Centre, and the associated partner from Montenegro, the Administration for Maritime Safety and Port Management .
The event has been the occasion to debate on crucial issues for the Barcelona Convention and for planning the activities until the next meeting of the Focal Points in 2027, discussing on the implementation of the Mediterranean Strategy, focusing on llegal and accidental oil and HNS pollution from ships, but also on air pollution and reduction of Green House Gases emissions from ships.
The CEI-ES updated the REMPEC focal points, the European Union , the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and other national and international organisations attending the meeting about the progress of the ASAP project which is developing in parallel and in synergy with the new Adriatic Contingency Plan promoted by the REMPEC: at this stage, research and modelling are ongoing, and preparatory activities for the organisation of the first ASAP anti-pollution exercise in Dubrovnik, which was announced during the event for next October 2nd , are under way. On this specific point, the meeting recognised the importance of Subregional Contingency Planning and related activities which represent a benefit not only for competent national authorities of two or more countries to co-operate in co-ordinating and integrating their response to marine pollution, but also for enhancing national and regional systems for preparedness to response the marine pollution.
The outcomes of the meeting will set the basis for formal decisions that will be taken at the MAP Focal Points meeting in Greece (16-19 September 2025) and the COP24 of the Barcelona Convention in Egypt (2-5 December 2025).
Next year the REMPEC will share with the CEI-ES an important anniversary. Along with the CEI-ES 30 years celebration, we will join as well the 50th Anniversary of REMPEC, recognising the outstanding contributions made by REMPEC over the past five decades in addressing marine pollution and fostering cooperation among Mediterranean coastal States.
For more info: marconato@cei.int
