1995 Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean

Barcelona Convention (previously Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution)

• International Law Documents
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  • Oceans/Law of the Sea
    • Marine Environment
    • Regional/Bilateral

United Nations Environment Programme, Coordinating Unit for the Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEPMAP) / Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas

“Article 28: Settlement of Disputes

1. In case of a dispute between Contracting Parties as to the interpretation or application of this Convention or the protocols, they shall seek a settlement of the dispute through negotiation or any other peaceful means of their own choice.
2. If the Parties concerned cannot settle their dispute through the means mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the dispute shall upon common agreement be submitted to arbitration under the conditions laid down in annex A to this Convention.
3. Nevertheless, the Contracting Parties may at any time declare that they recognize as compulsory ipso facto and without special agreement, in relation to any other Party accepting the same obligation, the application of the arbitration procedure in conformity with the provisions of annex A. Such declaration shall be notified in writing to the Depositary, who shall communicate it to the other Parties.”

Government of Spain

Annex A: Arbitration

09/07/2004

“Article 33: Entry into Force

1. This Convention shall enter into force on the same date as the protocol first entering into force.
2. The Convention shall also enter into force with regard to the States, the European Economic Community and any regional economic grouping referred to in article 30 if they have complied with the formal requirements for becoming Contracting Parties to any other protocol not yet entered into force.
3. Any protocol to this Convention, except as otherwise provided in such protocol, shall enter into force on the thirtieth day following the date of deposit of at least six instruments of ratification, acceptance, or approval of, or accession to such protocol by the Parties referred to in article 30.
4. Thereafter, this Convention and any protocol shall enter into force with respect to any State, the European Economic Community and any regional economic grouping referred to in article 30 on the thirtieth day following the date of deposit of the instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.”

The Convention has 7 current protocols:

1976 Protocol for the Prevention of Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea by Dumping from Ships and Aircraft (amended as 1995 Protocol for the Prevention and Elimination of Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea by Dumping from Ships and Aircraft or Incineration at the Sea)

1994 Protocol for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution Resulting from Exploration and Exploitation of the Continental Shelf and the Seabed and its Subsoil

1995 Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean (replaced 1982 Protocol Concerning Mediterranean Specially Protected Areas)

1996 Protocol for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution from Land-based Sources and Activities (replaced 1980 Protocol for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Land-based Sources)

1996 Protocol on the Prevention of Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea by Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal

2002 Protocol Concerning Cooperation in Preventing Pollution from Ships, and in Cases of Emergency, Combating Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea (replaced 1976 Protocol Concerning Cooperation in Combating Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea by Oil and other Harmful Substances in Cases of Emergency)

2008 Protocol on Integrated Coastal Zone Management in the Mediterranean

1976 Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution

1975 Mediterranean Action Plan

Mediterranean Action Plan of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP/MAP) accessed on 12/06/2024

The Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution (Barcelona Convention) was adopted on 16 February 1976 in Barcelona and entered into force in 1978.

The Barcelona Convention was amended in 1995 by the Amendments to the Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution and renamed as the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean. The amendments to the Barcelona Convention entered into force in 2004.

The Barcelona Convention and its seven Protocols adopted in the framework of the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) constitute the principal regional legally binding Multilateral Environmental Agreement (MEA) in the Mediterranean.