Progress on the EU-funded West MOPoCo PROJECT (2019-2020)
During this period, REMPEC also continued to implement activities of the EU-funded Western Mediterranean Region Marine Oil and HNS Pollution Cooperation (West MOPoCo) Project (2019-2020). The 2nd draft of the Inter-regional HNS Response Manual was further developed by Cedre, the Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) and ITOPF and disseminated for review by REMPEC, the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) and Bonn Agreement to the Contracting Parties from the Mediterranean Sea, Baltic Sea and North Sea regions.
In addition, with the assistance of Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG-ECHO), REMPEC initiated a consultation process with the Mediterranean countries for the establishment of a Common Emergency Communication System for the Mediterranean based on the recommendations provided during the Regional CECIS Marine Pollution workshop for the Mediterranean countries (Brussels, Belgium, 22-23 October 2019).
The Secretariat General for the Sea (SGMer) with the support of REMPEC, has started a study to explore possible synergies between the different sub-regional contingency plans in the West-Mediterranean, namely, the RAMOGE Agreement, LION Plan and the Agreement between Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. REMPEC continues assisting the beneficiary countries in assessing their national response capacities and mobilization mechanism.