HELCOM RECOMMENDATION 3/5 

Adopted 17 February 1982, having regard to Article 13, Paragraph b) of the Helsinki Convention

RECOMMENDATION CONCERNING FINANCIAL IMPACT OF ASSISTANCE RENDERED

THE COMMISSION,

RECOGNIZING the importance of the Contracting Parties to the Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area, 1979, (Helsinki Convention), cooperating in the combat of oil or other harmful substances polluting the marine environment agreeing on financial modalities for such joint actions,

RECOMMENDS Governments of the Contracting Parties to the Helsinki Convention to bear the costs of joint actions in accordance with the following formula, in cases where there is no agreement between them on the financial modalities governing such actions:

a)         in the case of one Contracting Party providing assistance at the express request of another Party the latter should be prepared to reimburse to the first the full cost of such assistance; and

b)         when a Party takes actions spontaneously (i.e. in the absence of an express request by another State) to prevent or control a spillage of oil or other harmful substance that Party should be prepared to bear the full cost of its action.