New Court 48 Carey Street London WC2A 2JQ United Kingdom Press statement t: +44 (0)20 7430 5200 Embargoed until 12:30 GMT on 9 October 2009 f: +44 (0)20 7430 5225 e:
[email protected] www.bonnagreement.org Contact number Audrey Baconnais-Rosez +0044 (0)20 7430 5200 For immediate release 9 October 2009 North Sea states strengthen cooperation against marine pollution Today all North Sea states and the European Community agreed on the framework of an Action Plan to combat illegal and accidental pollution of the Greater North Sea and its approaches. The Action Plan to be further developed by the end of this year will strengthen joint prevention, preparedness and response to marine pollution from shipping and other maritime activities in one of the world’s busiest international shipping areas. This important step towards a clean and healthy North Sea was made at the Annual Meeting of Contracting Parties to the Bonn Agreement, one of the most successful multilateral agreements which is an obligation under the International Maritime Organization. The meeting took place on 7-9 October 2009 in Bonn, 40 years after the agreement was concluded in the former capital of Germany in 1969. In his message to the meeting, Wolfgang Tiefensee, Federal Minister of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs, Germany, congratulated the Bonn Agreement Contracting Parties on 40 years of successful work. He said that he was convinced that in future the Bonn Agreement will “yet again make a successful contribution” to achieve a good environmental status for the seas by 2020, a goal set by the Integrated Maritime Policy for the European Union and its environmental pillar, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.