About
Mattias Lindholm
Chair of the Bonn Agreement
After serving several years at the Swedish Coast Guard, in Public Affairs and as Spokesperson, I have over the years regularly become involved in issues concerning international cooperation. The tasks carried out has been in the fields of border management in the Frontex realm and maritime environmental surveillance and response in connection to, in particular, Helcom. Besides the obvious prevention, preparedness and response aspects, crisis management and communications has been a common thread.
Taking over the Chair of the Bonn Agreement is very exciting. I aim to continue the Swedish chairmanship in accordance with the previous outlined ambition to meet the objectives: the accession of Spain, the inclusion of monitoring air emissions from shipping under Annex VI of the MARPOL Convention, and the implementation of the Bonn Agreement Strategic Action Plan 2019-2025.
Mattias Lindholm - April 2022
The Bonn Agreement
The Bonn Agreement is the mechanism by which ten Governments, together with the European Union, cooperate in dealing with pollution of the North Sea by oil and other harmful substances. The signatories to the Agreement are the Governments of the Kingdom of Belgium, the Kingdom of Denmark, the French Republic, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of Ireland, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Kingdom of Norway, the Kingdom of Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the European Union. Spain was welcomed as a Bonn Agreement Contracting Party at a ministerial meeting in 2019.
The Bonn Agreement covers the Greater North Sea and its Wider Approaches. This area includes the North Sea proper, the Skagerrak, the English Channel and its approaches and other waters comprising the Irish Sea, the Celtic Sea, the Malin Sea, the Great Minch, the Little Minch, part of the Norwegian Sea, and parts of the North East Atlantic.
Inside About
Contracting Parties
10 different countries and the European Union work together as Contracting Parties to the Bonn Agreement.
ReadObservers
The Bonn Agreement may also grant observer status to other States or International Intergovernmental Organisations.
ReadHistory
The Bonn Agreement is the oldest regional agreement established by governments for responding to pollution incidents.
ReadHow the Bonn Agreement works
The work of the Bonn Agreement is formally governed by the Rules of Procedure.
ReadNorth Sea
The Greater North Sea and its Wider Approaches is one of the busiest sea areas in the world with many commercial interests vying for space alongside the need for nature protection and space for recreational activities.
ReadPolicies
The Bonn Agreement has several levels of policy that govern its operation. Firstly the Agreement itself, originally signed in 1969 and regularly updated since, which outlines the legal basis for the organisation and its work.
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