{"id":17617,"date":"2022-09-16T20:13:34","date_gmt":"2022-09-16T20:13:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/legalblog.ie\/?p=17617"},"modified":"2022-09-25T14:54:52","modified_gmt":"2022-09-25T14:54:52","slug":"opsar-convention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/opsar-convention\/","title":{"rendered":"OPSAR Convention [EU]"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/opsar-convention\/#OSPAR_Convention\" title=\"OSPAR Convention\">OSPAR Convention<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/opsar-convention\/#Key_Points\" title=\"Key Points\">Key Points<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/opsar-convention\/#Ospar_Commission\" title=\"Ospar Commission\">Ospar Commission<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/opsar-convention\/#OSPARs_work\" title=\"OSPAR\u2019s work\">OSPAR\u2019s work<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/opsar-convention\/#Research\" title=\"Research\">Research<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/opsar-convention\/#Annexes\" title=\"Annexes\">Annexes<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/opsar-convention\/#Application\" title=\"Application\">Application<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/opsar-convention\/#MAIN_DOCUMENTS\" title=\"MAIN DOCUMENTS\">MAIN DOCUMENTS<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"OSPAR_Convention\"><\/span>OSPAR Convention<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Decision 98\/249\/EC \u2014 concluding a convention protecting the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic<\/p>\n<p>Convention for the protection of the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic<\/p>\n<p>The decision concluded the OSPAR Convention, on behalf of the European Union (EU) \u2014 at the time known as the European Community.<br \/>\nThe OSPAR Convention aims to prevent and eliminate marine pollution and thus to protect the north-east Atlantic area against the adverse effects of human activities.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Points\"><\/span>Key Points<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The European Community is a Contracting Party to the Convention for the protection of the marine environment of the north-east Atlantic, which was signed in Paris on 22 September 1992.<\/p>\n<p>The convention lays down various definitions such as:<br \/>\nmaritime area*,<br \/>\ninternal waters*,<br \/>\npollution*.<\/p>\n<p>The parties to the convention undertook to take all possible steps to:<br \/>\nprevent and eliminate pollution,<br \/>\nimplement the necessary measures to protect the north-east Atlantic against the adverse effects of human activities.<\/p>\n<p>These measures seek to safeguard human health, to conserve maritime ecosystems and, when practicable, to restore marine areas which have been harmed. To this end, the parties will (individually and jointly):<br \/>\nadopt programmes and measures,<br \/>\nharmonise their policies and strategies.<br \/>\nTo meet their obligations, the parties must observe 2 principles.<br \/>\nThe precautionary principle: preventive measures are to be taken when there are reasonable grounds for concern that substances or energy introduced, directly or indirectly, into the marine environment may do any of the following, even when there is no conclusive evidence of a causal relationship between the inputs and the effects;<br \/>\nBring about hazards to human health.<br \/>\nHarm living resources and marine ecosystems.<br \/>\nDamage amenities.<br \/>\nInterfere with other legitimate uses of the sea.<\/p>\n<p>The polluter pays principle:the costs of pollution prevention, control and reduction measures are to be borne by the polluter.<br \/>\nThe programmes the parties set up must take account of the latest technological developments and best environmental practice.<\/p>\n<p>The measures taken must not increase pollution of the sea outside the maritime area or in other parts of the environment.<br \/>\nThe parties, individually or jointly, agree to take all possible steps to prevent and eliminate:<br \/>\npollution of the maritime area from land-based sources and activities;<br \/>\npollution by dumping or incineration of wastes or other matter in the ocean;<br \/>\npollution from offshore sources (offshore installations and pipelines from which substances or energy reach the maritime area).<br \/>\nA cooperation agreement may be negotiated between the parties to tackle transboundary pollution.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ospar_Commission\"><\/span>Ospar Commission<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The convention sets up a Commission which is the decision-making body of the convention and consists of representatives of the parties. The commission discusses and adopts various decisions and recommendations. Decisions become binding on the contracting parties after a period of 200 days, while recommendations are not binding.<br \/>\nIts duties are to:<br \/>\nsupervise the implementation of the convention;<br \/>\nreview the condition of the maritime area;<br \/>\ncheck the effectiveness of the measures being adopted;<br \/>\ndraw up programmes and measures for the prevention and elimination of maritime pollution;<br \/>\nestablish its programme of work;<br \/>\ncreate the instruments necessary to execute that programme.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"OSPARs_work\"><\/span>OSPAR\u2019s work<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>An evaluation of progress in regard to the OSPAR Radioactive Substance Strategy shows that the parties have achieved substantial reductions in discharges from the nuclear sector.<br \/>\nThe parties have also adopted measures to protect and conserve a further species (the Atlantic salmon) and habitat (intertidal mudflats) both identified by OSPAR as being particularly vulnerable within the north-east Atlantic.<\/p>\n<p>OSPAR announced in 2016 that 10 new Marine Protected Areas had been added to its network bringing the total to 423.<br \/>\nOSPAR has furthered the international effort to reduce marine litter with the creation of a fishing for litter network across the north-east Atlantic which will allow vessels to land waste in any of over 40 harbours involved. OSPAR parties have also agreed to tackle sources of marine environment micro plastic pollution .<br \/>\nOSPAR also serves as a forum for the coordinated implementation of the EU\u2019s Maritime Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) by EU countries and for interregional cooperation based on MSFD concepts and methods.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Research\"><\/span>Research<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The convention requires the establishment of complementary or joint programmes of scientific or technical research, to be transmitted to the commission.<br \/>\nArbitration procedure<\/p>\n<p>An arbitration procedure is laid down for the settlement of disputes between contracting parties.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Annexes\"><\/span>Annexes<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The OSPAR Convention contains Annexes which deal with the following specific areas<\/p>\n<p>Annex I: Prevention and elimination of pollution from land-based sources<br \/>\nAnnex II: Prevention and elimination of pollution by dumping or incineration<br \/>\nAnnex III: Prevention and elimination of pollution from offshore sources<br \/>\nAnnex IV: Assessment of the quality of the marine environment<br \/>\nAnnex V: On the protection and conservation of the ecosystems and biological diversity of the maritime area.<br \/>\nEU Arctic strategy<\/p>\n<p>A 2016 joint communication recommends the EU\u2019s<\/p>\n<p>continued engagement in multilateral environmental agreements that also have particular relevance to the Arctic, such as OSPAR;<br \/>\nestablishing marine protected areas in the Arctic in order to preserve biodiversity;<br \/>\nworking with Arctic states and other international partners to develop an instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Application\"><\/span>Application<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The decision applies from 7 October 1997.<br \/>\nThe convention entered into force on 25 March 1998. It replaces the Oslo (1972) and Paris (1974) Conventions.<br \/>\nThe convention has been signed and ratified by Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom ( 1 ) which, with the EU, cooperate to protect the north-east Atlantic &#8216;s marine environment.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>For more information, see:<\/p>\n<p>The OSPAR Convention (European Commission).<br \/>\nKEY TERMS<\/p>\n<p>Maritime area:<br \/>\nall of the following:<\/p>\n<p>The internal waters and the territorial seas of the contracting parties.<\/p>\n<p>The sea beyond and adjacent to the territorial sea under the jurisdiction of the coastal state to the extent recognised by international law.<\/p>\n<p>The high seas, including the bed of all those waters and its subsoil, situated within the following limits:<\/p>\n<p>Those parts of the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans and their dependent seas which lie north of 36\u00b0 north latitude and between 42\u00b0 west longitude and 51\u00b0 east longitude but excluding<br \/>\nthe Baltic Sea and the Belts lying to the south and east of lines drawn from Hasenore Head to Gniben Point, from Korshage to Spodsbjerg and from Gilbjerg Head to Kullen, and<br \/>\nthe Mediterranean Sea and its dependent seas as far as the point of intersection of the parallel of 36\u00b0 north latitude and the meridian of 5\u00b0 36&#8217; west longitude.<br \/>\nThat part of the Atlantic Ocean north of 59\u00b0 north latitude and between 44\u00b0 west longitude and 42\u00b0 west longitude.<br \/>\nInternal waters: the waters of the landward side of the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured (extending in the case of watercourses up to the freshwater limit (the place in a watercourse where, at low tide and in a period of low freshwater flow, there is an appreciable increase in salinity due to the presence of seawater)).<br \/>\nPollution:<br \/>\nthe introduction by man, directly or indirectly, of substances or energy into the maritime area which results, or is likely to result, in any of the following:<\/p>\n<p>hazards to human health,<br \/>\nharm to living resources and marine ecosystems,<br \/>\ndamage to amenities,<br \/>\ninterference with other legitimate uses of the sea.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"MAIN_DOCUMENTS\"><\/span>MAIN DOCUMENTS<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Council Decision 98\/249\/EC of 7 October 1997 on the conclusion of the Convention for the protection of the marine environment of the north-east Atlantic (OJ L 104, 3.4.1998, p. 1)<\/p>\n<p>Convention for the protection of the marine environment of the north-east Atlantic (OJ L 104, 3.4.1998, pp. 2\u201321)<\/p>\n<p>RELATED DOCUMENTS<\/p>\n<p>Directive 2008\/56\/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy (Marine Strategy Framework Directive) (OJ L 164, 25.6.2008, pp. 19\u201340)<\/p>\n<p>Successive amendments to Directive 2008\/56\/EC have been incorporated into the original document. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.<\/p>\n<p>Joint communication to the European Parliament and the Council \u2014 An integrated European Union policy for the Arctic (JOIN(2016) 21 final, 27.4.2016)<\/p>\n<p>( 1 ) The United Kingdom withdraws from the European Union and becomes a third country (non-EU country) as of 1 February 2020.<\/p>\n<!--themify_builder_content-->\n<div id=\"themify_builder_content-17617\" data-postid=\"17617\" class=\"themify_builder_content themify_builder_content-17617 themify_builder tf_clear\">\n    <\/div>\n<!--\/themify_builder_content-->\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>OSPAR Convention Decision 98\/249\/EC \u2014 concluding a convention protecting the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic Convention for the protection of the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic The decision concluded the OSPAR Convention, on behalf of the European Union (EU) \u2014 at the time known as the European Community. The OSPAR Convention aims to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[215,247],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17617"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17617"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17617\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18412,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17617\/revisions\/18412"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17617"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17617"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17617"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}