The directive will help strengthen bilateral cooperation between the Arctic governments in preventing oil pollution of the sea to protect the Arctic environment.
Prepared by the Russian Foreign Ministry in line with the decisions of the 2013 ministerial meeting of the Arctic Council in Kiruna (Sweden).
The framework plan of cooperation in preventing the oil pollution of Arctic sea areas as a result of oil and gas activity and shipping (hereinafter, the Framework Plan) aims to strengthen cooperation between the governments of the Arctic countries in preventing oil pollution of the sea to protect the Arctic environment.
The Framework Plan was preliminarily considered by the US, Danish, Icelandic, Canadian, Norwegian, Swedish and Finnish sides.
The Framework Plan provides for the exchange of information between its participants, among other things, with regard to the processes, rules, policies and practices related to the prevention of oil pollution of the Arctic marine environment. The participants in the Framework Plan also intend to assess the environmental impact and risks involved in oil and gas activity and shipping, which can lead to oil pollution of the Arctic marine environment.
The Framework Plan contains a list of measures to prevent oil pollution as a result of oil and gas activity in the Arctic, as well as a list of measures to prevent oil pollution of the Arctic marine environment as a result of shipping.
The Framework Plan is not an international treaty and does not establish rights or obligations subject to international law.
The Framework Plan is due to be signed at a ministerial meeting of the Arctic Council on 24 April 2015, in the city of Iqaluit (Canada). The Framework Plan will come into effect on 25 April 2015.
The decisions will help strengthen bilateral
cooperation between the Arctic governments in preventing oil pollution of the
sea to protect the Arctic environment.