The aim of this event that takes place from 6–8 April is to introduce the requirements due to the Helsinki Convention and the London Convention and Protocol, as well as their appropriate implementation in different Contracting States. The countries also have an opportunity to exchange experiences on implementation of these contracts, which should make it easier to make conclusions and decisions on the improved application of the contractual requirements. “Estonia is about to join the protocol on preventing sea pollution from dumping or voluntary throwing of waste and other substances into the sea, or the so-called London Protocol,” Agnes Pilv, Chief Specialist of the Marine Environment Department of the Ministry of the Environment, said. “Therefore this event is very important to us, since it enables us to share our experiences related to implementation of control, monitoring and implementation of the protocol in the case of dredging or dumping with our Baltic Sea neighbours,” she specified. According to Pilv, the Helsinki Convention that regulates dumping on the Baltic Sea will also be discussed. Presentations will be made by IMO, HELCOM and different experts from all over the world. In addition to the meeting taking place at the Ministry of the Environment, a meeting of the London Convention and the 34th scientific group will take place the week after that in hotel Euroopa, continuing with the discussion on the London Convention and the scientific criteria of its protocol requirements. As a result of the work group meeting, guidelines will be developed to countries in order to implement the environmental protection norms in case of dumping. “The meeting that will take place at the Ministry of the Environment will focus on implementation, together with examples and recommendations of good practice, the other is a meeting at which accurate requirements will be developed, currently made up by the participating countries in order to protect the sea environment,” Pilv explained. On 13 November 1972, the Convention on Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter was accepted in London. This is a global convention on dumping that was amended with the Protocol accepted on 7 November 1996. The Protocol entered into force on 24 March 2006 and it is a more modern and comprehensive regulation on prevention of marine pollution by dumping of wastes and other matter than the original London Convention. In accordance with Article 23 of the Protocol, it shall replace the London Convention. There are 37 Contracting States of the Protocol, whereas this number was 86 for the London Convention. Among the Baltic Sea countries, Finland, Sweden, Russia, Poland, Denmark and Germany are the Contracting States of the London Convention. Protocol States are Sweden, Denmark and Germany. In addition to Estonia, Finland and Lithuania are also preparing to join with this Protocol. On the Baltic Sea, dumping is also regulated by the Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area, or the Helsinki Convention. The Riigikogu of the Republic of Estonia ratified the Helsinki Convention on 19 April 1995; the Convention entered into force for Estonia on 19 May 1995. |
