HELCOM RECOMMENDATION 2/7

Adopted 17 February 1981, having regard to Article 13, Paragraph b) of the Helsinki Convention

RECOMMENDATION CONCERNING THE DELIMITATION OF RESPONSE REGIONS FOR COMBATTING MARINE POLLUTION

THE COMMISSION,

RECALLING the provisions of Sub‑Paragraph a) of Paragraph 1 of Regulation 7 of Annex VI to the Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area, 1974, (Helsinki Convention), according to which the Contracting Parties shall as soon as possible agree bilaterally or multilaterally on those regions of the Baltic Sea Area in which they will take action for combatting or salvage activities whenever a significant spillage of oil or other harmful substances or any incidents causing or likely to cause pollution within the Baltic Sea Area have occurred or are likely to occur,

RECOGNIZING the need for early action in order to establish Response Regions for combatting purposes,

NOTING the existence of zones already established for the purpose of delimiting marine areas,

NOTING FURTHER that it has not been possible to complete the delimitation of marine areas in the Baltic Sea and hence to agree on the definition of Response Regions for combatting marine pollution among the Contracting Parties to the Helsinki Convention,

RECOMMENDS that the Contracting Parties to the Helsinki Convention should as soon as possible initiate bilateral or multilateral negotiations with a view to defining Response Regions for combatting marine pollution in the Baltic Sea Area.