Community response to marine pollution emergencies

Community mechanism for civil protection

Since 1987, the Commission has provided operational support to Member States faced with major pollution incidents through an "Urgent Pollution Alert Section" set up in Brussels whenever needed and operational on a 24h a day basis.

Community Action in the field of response to marine pollution accidents was reinforced after the Council Decision of 23 October 2001 that established a Community mechanism to facilitate reinforced cooperation in civil protection assistance Interventions. The new instrument covers both civil protection and marine pollution emergencies. The  general purpose of the Mechanism is, on request, to provide support in the event of an emergency and to facilitate improved co-ordination of assistance intervention provided by the Member States and the Community. The Community Mechanism for civil protection allows to respond to any major disaster inside and outside the EU by coordinating requests and offers for assistance between 30 participating states: the EU 25, the three European Economic Area countries (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein), plus Bulgaria and Romania.

The Mechanism consists of a series of elements and actions in particular in the field of emergency preparedness and response:

• the establishment and management of a Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC);
• the establishment and management of a Common Emergency Communication and Information System (CECIS);
• the identification of intervention teams and other intervention support available in Member States for assistance in the case of an emergency.

The EU's Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC), actively assists in managing maritime accidents. The MIC is located within the Directorate-General Environment. It has been operational since January 2002 and has dealt with more than 50 emergencies so far. It is a "one-stop shop" manned by specialised personnel who are on stand-by 24 hours a day seven days a week.

The MIC monitors the situation for disasters. When a country hit by a disaster asks for assistance, the MIC forwards the request for assistance to all the other participating countries. They then process the responses and send them back to the country in need of assistance. In this way, within a few hours, the requesting country has an overview of all the international help it can rely on.

Sending experts on site

If a pollution incident is sufficiently serious, the Member State concerned can request the secondment of one or several government experts who have direct experience of emergency situations and are therefore particularly well qualified to give effective assistance. These experts will be called upon to attend the scene of the incident and give their advice to the authorities responsible for coordinating the response measures. Experts may also act as "liaison officers" to arrange, if necessary, for additional assistance to be provided by their own Member States.

All the costs of the secondment of experts' assistance are borne by the Commission.

Interventions

Since 1987, the following interventions have been carried out:

• 2007: South Korea - oil spill

• 2007: Black Sea - oil spill

• 2006: Philippines - oil spill

• 2006: Ivory Coast - toxic spill

• 2006: Oil spill along Lebanese coast

• 2002: "PRESTIGE" (Spain/France)

• 2001: "BALTIC CARRIER" (Denmark)

• 2001: "JESSICA" (Galapagos)

• 2000: "PETER" (Gabon)

• 2000: "IEVOLI SUN" (France)

• 1999: "ERIKA" (France)

• 1996: "SEA EMPRESS" (UK)

• 1993: "BRAER" (Shetland Islands)

• 1992:"AEGAN SEA" (Spain)

• 1991: "HAVEN" (Italy)

• 1991: Oil pollution in the Gulf

• 1990: Porto Santo Island (Madeira)

• 1990:"ARAGON" (Spain)

• 1989:"KHARK V" (Spain/Morocco)

• 1989:"MARAO" (Portugal)

• 1987:"CASON" (Spain)

Acquisition of satellite images

The European Commission or affected Member State can request satellite images of the polluted area in the context of the International Charter (Space and Major Disasters). .

Coordination of mission observers

When an accident happens, Members States are usually interested in sending observers to the scene. The European Commission may act as coordinator if there is a need to organise joint missions of observers coming from national competent authorities. The European Commission normally shoulders expenses for a liaison officer in charge of the organisation and development of the visit, while the costs for each observer are borne by their own Member State.