13-15 June 2023, the MOIG Director participated to the Fifteenth Meeting of the Focal Points Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC) held at the Urban Valley Resort & Spa in Kappara, Malta.

The principal objectives of the meeting were :

⦿ To examine the implementation of REMPEC activities and deliverables pursuant to the Programme of Work (PoW) of the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), also referred to as UNEP/MAP, since the Fourteenth Meeting of the Focal Points of REMPEC (online, 29 May-01 June 2021); and

⦿ To discuss and agree upon the proposed PoW of REMPEC for the biennium 2024-2025, prior to its submission, for approval by the next meeting of the UNEP/MAP Focal Points (Istanbul, Turkey, 12-15 September 2023), and for adoption by the Twenty-Third Ordinary Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention and its Protocols (COP 23, Portoroz, Slovenia, 04-08 December 2023).

The main issues discussed and adopted during this meeting were the following ones:

⦿ The adoption of the amendments to Annex VI to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) concerning the Mediterranean Sea Emission Control Area for Sulphur Oxides and Particulate Matter (Med SOx ECA);

⦿ The adoption of the Mediterranean Strategy for the Prevention of Preparedness and Response to Marine Pollution from Ships (2022-2031);

⦿ The final draft regional harmonized procedures for the uniform implementation of the Ballast Water Management Convention in the Mediterranean Sea;

⦿ The final draft common marine oil pollution detection/investigation report;

⦿ The progress made by the Mediterranean Technical Working Group (MTWG) on various topics, including the “Condensates – Chemical Intervention Guide for the Mediterranean”;

⦿ The Mediterranean Assistance Unit (MAU).

Relevant outcomes of this meeting will be submitted to the next Meeting of the MAP Focal Points for consideration and approval, as appropriate, prior to their submission to COP 23 for adoption. The Sixteenth Meeting of the Focal Points of REMPEC will be tentatively held in 2025.

This meeting was also a good opportunity to undertake fruitful discussions with technical partners and international organizations on oil spill preparedness and response in the Mediterranean region and identify scope for future cooperation.

The Management Committee Members would like to thank REMPEC for its kind invitation.