Thirty-second meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Bonn Agreement

Bonn 2020 was chaired by Mr Hans Petter Mortensholm, from Norway, and attended by representatives from Belgium, Denmark, European Union, represented by the European Commission and EMSA, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Bonn agreed to establish an expert consultation mechanism to identify priorities for consideration in the preparation process of EU Calls or other funding programmes and adopted a guidance on the Bonn Agreement’s strategic approach to projects.

Spain gave an update on the ratification process of the decision on their accession to the Bonn Agreement and informed the meeting that it was expected to conclude by June 2021.

Contracting Parties gave an update on their ratification process of the decision on the extension of the scope of application of the Agreement with a view to cooperation on surveillance of the requirements of Annex VI of MARPOL, with the exemption of Germany and Norway who had already notified the approval of the Decision.

Bonn discussed the main issues arising from OTSOPA including surveillance activities; the Joint Action Programme; the ToR of MARPOL Annex VI Experts’ Workshop ICG; significant acute pollution under MSFD; and West MOPoCo and IMAROS projects.

Norway gave an update on the accidental release of plastic pellets from MV Trans Carrier and France informed the meeting on their involvement in the MV Wakashio incident in Mauritius. Bonn agreed to include the follow up of lessons learnt from incidents in the programme of work.

Ireland was pleased to announce they will be hosting Bonn 2021 and Sweden informed the meeting that a new Chairman will be nominated soon to hold the Presidency for the next two-year period.