Black Sea - Governing Instruments

 

The Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution

Short Title: Bucharest Convention
Year adopted: 21 st April 1992 (UNEP 2001)
Year entered into force: 15th January 1994 (with the ratification's of Bulgaria, Romania, Russian Federation and Georgia). Turkey ratified on 29 March 1994, Ukraine on 15 April 1994.

Contracting Parties : Bulgaria, Romania, Russian Federation, Georgia, Turkey and Ukraine (UNEP 2001)

Depositary State: Romania

Ratification:

Main Objectives:

• To prevent pollution by hazardous substances or matter;
• To prevent, reduce and control the pollution from land-based sources;
• To prevent, reduce and control the pollution of the marine environment from vessels in accordance with the generally accepted rules and standards;
• To prevent, reduce and control the pollution of the marine environment resulting from emergency situations;
• To prevent, reduce and control the pollution by dumping;
• To prevent, reduce and control the pollution caused by or connected with activities on the continental shelf, including exploration and exploitation of natural resources;
• To prevent, reduce and control the pollution from or through the atmosphere;
• To protect the biodiversity and the marine living resources;
• To prevent the pollution from hazardous wastes in transboundary movement and the illegal traffic thereof; and
• To provide framework for scientific and technical co-operation and monitoring activities.

Link to the full Convention text: http://www.blacksea-commission.org/

Strategic Action Plan for the Rehabilitation and Protection of the Black Sea

Year adopted: Istanbul, Turkey, 30 - 31 October 1996
Amended: Sofia, Bulgaria 22-26 June 2002
Participating Countries : Bulgaria, Romania, Russian Federation, Georgia, Turkey and Ukraine (UNEP 2001)

Main Principles of the Strategic Action Plan:

• The concept of sustainable development;
• The precautionary principle;
• Anticipatory actions, such as contingency planning, environmental impact assessment and strategic environmental assessment (involving the assessment of the environmental consequences of governmental policies, programmes and plans);
• The use of clean technologies, which require the replacement or phasing-out of high waste and waste generating technologies that remain in use;
• The use of economic instruments that foster sustainable development;
• Environmental and health considerations;
• Close cooperation among Black Sea coastal states, in adopting interim arrangements which facilitate the rehabilitation of and protection of the Black Sea ecosystem and the sustainable management of its resources;
• Cooperation among all Black Sea basin states;
• The involvement of stakeholders in the implementation of this Strategic Action Plan;
• Transparency and public participation.

Link to the full Action Plan text : http://www.blacksea-commission.org/

Protocol on Protection of the Black Sea Marine Environment Against Pollution from Land Based Sources

Year adopted: 21 st April 1992 (UNEP 2001)
Year entered into force: 15th January 1994 (with the ratification's of Bulgaria, Romania, Russian Federation and Georgia). Turkey ratified on 29 March 1994, Ukraine on 15 April 1994.
Contracting Parties: Bulgaria, Romania, Russian Federation, Georgia, Turkey and Ukraine

Protocol on Cooperation in combating pollution of the Black Sea Marine Environment by Oil and Other Harmful Substances in Emergency Situations

Year adopted: 21 st April 1992 (UNEP 2001)
Year entered into force: 15th January 1994 (with the ratification's of Bulgaria, Romania, Russian Federation and Georgia). Turkey ratified on 29 March 1994, Ukraine on 15 April 1994.
Contracting Parties: Bulgaria, Romania, Russian Federation, Georgia, Turkey and Ukraine

Protocol on The Protection of The Black Sea Marine Environment Against Pollution by Dumping

Year adopted: 21 st April 1992 (UNEP 2001)
Year entered into force: 15th January 1994 (with the ratification's of Bulgaria, Romania, Russian Federation and Georgia). Turkey ratified on 29 March 1994, Ukraine on 15 April 1994.
Contracting Parties: Bulgaria, Romania, Russian Federation, Georgia, Turkey and Ukraine

Black Sea Biodiversity and Landscape Conservation Protocol

Signed: Sofia, Bulgaria 2003 and is to be ratified shortly.
Contracting Parties: Bulgaria, Romania, Russian Federation, Georgia, Turkey and Ukraine

To link to full text of the Protocols: http://www.blacksea-commission.org/