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COM (83) 476 
 
 
 
Vol. 1983/0 180 
  
 
Disclaimer  
Conformém ent au règlement (CEE, Euratom) n° 354/83 du Conseil du 1er février 1983 
concernant l'ouverture au public des archives historiques de la Communauté économique 
européenne et de la Communauté européenne de l'énergie atomique (JO L 43 du 15.2.1983, 
p. 1), tel que modifié par le règlement (CE, Euratom) n° 1700/2003 du 22 septembre 2003 
(JO L 243 du 27.9.2003, p. 1), ce dossier est ouvert au public. Le cas échéant, les documents 
classifiés présents dans ce dossier ont été déclassifiés conformément à l'article 5 dudit 
règlem ent. 
In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983 
concerning the opening to the public of the historical archives of the European Economic 
Community and the European Atomic Energy Communit y (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1), as 
amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1700/2003 of 22 September 2003 (OJ L 243, 
27.9.2003, p. 1), this file is open to the public. Where necessary, classified documents in this 
file have been declassified in conformity with Article 5 of the aforementioned regulation. 
In Übereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom  1. 
Februar 1983 über die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europäischen 
Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und der Europäischen Atomgem einschaft (ABI. L 43 vom  15.2.1983, 
S. 1), geändert durch die Verordnung (EG, Euratom) Nr. 1700/2003 vom 22. Septem ber 2003 
(ABI. L 243 vom 27.9.2003, S. 1), ist diese Datei der Öffentlichkeit zugänglich. Soweit 
erforderlich, wurden die Verschlusssachen in dieser Datei in Übereinstimmung mit Artikel 5 
der genannten Verordnung freigegeben. 
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
C0MC83) 476 final  
Brussels, 25 July 1983
RECOMMENDATION FOR A COUNCIL DECISION
concerning the signature of the Agreement for cooperation in dealing with  
pollution of the North Sea by oil and other harmful substances
(submitted to the Council by the Commission)
C0MC83) 476 final

Explanatory Mémorandum
In accordance with the Council Decision of 19 May 1981, the Commission  
has negotiated the accession of the European Economic Community to  
the Bonn Agreement of 9 June for cooperation in dealing with pollution  
of the North Sea by oil.
In accordance with the aboveinentioned decision, the negotiations were  
carried out by the Commission in consultation with the Member States'  
representatives.
The negotiations took place at the same time as the negotiations between  
the Contracting Parties relating to a new agreement which is intended  
to strengthen cooperation, adjust the geographical limits to which the  
agreement applies, and ensure cooperation in dealing with dangerous  
substances other than oil.
The negotiations have resulted in the attached texts which are scheduled  
to be signed at a Diplomatic Conference to be held in Bonn in early  
September 1983.
In order to enable the Community to sign the agreement with the other  
Contracting Parties at the Diplomatic Conference, it is necessary for the  
Council to authorize its President to designate the persons authorized to sign  
the Agreement on behalf of the Community.
In this communication the Commission recommends the Council to decide,  
as soon as possible, to sign the Agreement for cooperation in dealing with  
pollution of the North Sea by oil and other harmful substances, and to  
authorize the President of the Council to designate the persons authorized  
to sign the Agreement on behalf of the Community, subject to its adoption  
at the Diplomatic Conference to bo held in Bonn in early September 1983.

Com m unication from  the C om m ission to the Council
Outcome of the negotiations on the accession of the European  
Economic Community to the Bonn Agreement (1969) for cooperation  
in dealing with pollution of the North Sea by oil.
Recommendation to sign the Agreement for cooperation in dealing  
with pollution of the North Sea by oil and other harmful substances.

I. !n1 ro· luction
On 19 Nay 1931 the Council adopted a decision authorizing the Commission  
to negotiate the accession of the European Economic Community to the  
Bonn Agreement of 9 June 1969 for cooperation in dealing with pollution  
of the North Sea by oil.
The negotiations on accession by the Community to the Bonn Agreement  
took place at the same time as the negotiation, by the contracting parties,  
of amendments to the Agreement in order to:
- develop mutual assistance and cooperation in dealing with pollution;
- adjust the geographical limits within which the Agreement applies;
- permit cooperation in dealing with pollution by dangerous substances  
other than oil.
In pursuance of the Council Decision, the Commission consulted the  
representatives of the Member States while conducting the negotiations.
II. The negotiations
It proved necessary during the negotiations to examine certain questions  
concerning the possibility of the accession of the Community to the  
Agreement, and in particular:
- voting rights,
- financial provisions,
- eligibility for the office of Chairman.
It seemed appropriate with regard to voting rights to comply with legal  
precedent on the matter (the wording of the Agreement is the same on  
this point as Article 19 of the Paris Convention). It was considered  
improbable that the contracting parties would use voting in order to
.  1implement the Agreement, which primarily concerned an exchange of information .
_________  ·  .../.
Se
e documents 7129/82 of 24 May 1982 and 7644/82 of 10 June 1982.

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Undor the financial arrangements the Community will contribute 2.5%
1towards ordinary expenditure .
As regards eligibility for the Chairmanship of the meetings of the
2Contracting Parties, the "Environment" Working Party agreed that the  
following three declarations should be entered in the minutes of the  
Council meeting which would decide on conclusion of the Agreement:
- "the Council and the Commission consider that election to the Chaii—  
manship under the Bonn Agreement will be by invitation and not by  
rotation of the various Contracting Parties".
- "the Council declares that any candidature of the Commission for the  
Chairmanship under the Bonn Agreement will be discussed within the  
Council, which will take a decision on it".
- the Commission declares that it does not intend to present the Community  
to the Contracting Parties to this Agreement as a candidate for the  
Chairmanship under the Bonn Agreement without the agreement of the  
Council."
III. Completion of the negotiations
At the meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Bonn Agreement held in  
The Hague from 26 to 29 April 1983, all of the Contracting Parties  
adopted the drafts of the new Agreement enclosed, which also covers  
other dangerous substances.
This text reflects the wishes of the Community as regards voting rights(art.13  
and financial arrangement^sJ'Vhe "nieeting of the Contracting Parties  
accepted without discussion, in respect of eligibility for the Chairman­
ship, that the Chairman would be elected by invitation and not by rotation  
(art.  12 par. 2).
.« «/ . . . _
See Council document 3644/82 of 10 June 1982.
2.  .  . . .  _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Se
e Council document 9694/82 of 7 October 1982.

" 5 ~
IV. Signature and conclusion of the Agreement (art. 18)
This Agreement will have to be signed at a diplomatic conference attended  
by the Contracting Parties to the Bonn Agreement which will be held in  
early September 1983.
In order to enable the Community to sign the Agreement with the other  
Contracting Parties during the above-mentioned diplomatic conference,  
it will be necessary for the Council to authorize the President of the  
Council to nominate the persons empowered to sign the Agreement on  
behalf of the Community.
The Commission reserves the right, after signing the Agreement at the  
diplomatic conference, to lay before the Council a proposal for a Council  
Decision on the conclusion of the Agreement.
V . Conclusions
The Commission recommends that the Council decide as soon as possible  
to sign the Agreement for cooperation in dealing with pollution of the  
North Sea by oil and other harmful substances and authorize the President  
of the Council to nominate the persons empowered to sign this Agreement  
on behalf of the Community, subject to its adoption at the diplomatic  
conference to be held in Bonn in early September 1983.

R E C O M M E N D A T I O N  T O R  A  C O U N C I L  D E C I S I O N
concerning the signature of the Agreement for cooperation in dealing with pollution  of
the North Sea by oil a n d  other harm ful substances :
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,  
Having regard recommendation from the Commission,
Whereas by its Decision of 19 May 1981 the Council authorized the Commission  
to negotiate the accession of the European Economic Community to the  
Bonn Agreement of 9 July 1969 for cooperation in dealing with pollution  
of the North Sea by oil;
Whereas the Community should sign the Agreement for cooperation in dealing  
with pollution of the North Sea by oil and other harmful substances which  
is due to be signed by the diplomatic conference in Bonn in September 1983,
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
Sole Article
The President of the Council is hereby authorized to designate the persons 
empowered to sign the Agreement for cooperation in dealing with pollution  
of the North Sea by oil and other harmful substances and to confer on them  
the powers needed to bind the Community.
Done at .....
For t
he Counci l  
The President

AGREEMENT FOR CO-OPERATION IN DEALING WITH POLLUTION OF THE NORTH S/'A BY OIL AND 
OTHER HARMFUL SUBSTANCES
The Governments of ........................ and the European Economic Community,
Recognising that pollution of the sea by oil and other harmful substances in the 
North Sea area may threaten the marine environment and the interests of coastal 
States,
Noting that such pollution has many sources and that casualties and other 
incidents at sea are of great concern,
Convinced that an ability to combat such pollution as well as active 
co-operation and mutual assistance among States are necessary for the protection 
of their coasts and related interests,
Welcoming the progress that has already been achieved within the framework of 
the Agreement for Co-operation in Dealing with Pollution of the North Sea by 
Oil, signed at Bonn on 9 June 1969,
Wishing to develop further mutual assistance and co-operation in combating 
pollution,
Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1
This Agreement shall apply whenever the presence or the prospective presence of 
oil or other harmful substances polluting or threatening to pollute the sea 
within the North Sea area, as defined in Article 2 of this Agreement, presents a 
grave and imminent danger to the coast or related interests of one or more 
Contracting Parties.

-  2 -
ARTICLE 2
For the purpose of this Agreement the North Sea area means the North Sea proper 
southwards of latitude 61°N, together with:
(a) the Skagerrak, the southern limit of which is determined east of the 
Skaw by the latitude 57°44', 8 N;
(b) the English Channel and its approaches eastwards of a line drawn 
fifty nautical miles to the west of a line joining the Scilly Isles and Ushant.
ARTICLE 3
(1) The Contracting Parties consider that protection against pollution of the 
kind referred to in Article 1 of this Agreement is a matter which calls for 
active co-operation between them.
(2) The Contracting Parties shall jointly develop and establish guidelines for 
the practical, operational and technical aspects of joint action.
ARTICLE 4
Contracting Parties undertake to inform the other Contracting Parties about:
(a) their national organisation for dealing with pollution of the kind 
referred to in Article 1 of this Agreement;
(b) the competent authority responsible for receiving and dispatching 
reports of such pollution and for dealing with questions concerning measures of 
mutual assistance between Contracting Parties;
(c) their national means for avoiding or dealing with such pollution, 
which might be made available for international assistance;
(d) new ways in which such pollution may be avoided and about new 
effective measures to deal with it;

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(e) major pollution incidents of this kind dealt with. \
|
i
ARTICLE 5 |
I
|
(1) Whenever a Contracting Party is aware of a casualty or the presence of oil |
or other harmful substances in the North Sea area likely to constitute a serious j
threat to the coast or related interests of any other Contracting Party, it
§shall inform that Party without delay through its competent authority. ^
i
}
(2) The Contracting Parties undertake to request the masters of all ships 1
flying their flags and pilots of aircraft registered in their countries to j
report without delay through the channels which may be most practicable and j
adequate in the circumstances: l
i1
(a) all casualties causing or likely to cause pollution of the sea; \
£*
J
(b) the presence, nature and extent of oil or other harmful substances |
likely to constitute a serious threat to the coast or related interests of one 1
or more Contracting Parties. \
\
\j i
(3) The Contracting Parties shall establish a standard form for the reporting |
of pollution as required under paragraph 1 of this Article. j
J
■ii
ARTICLE 6 |
(1) For the sole purpose of this Agreement the North Sea area is divided into
■2
the zones described in the Annex to this Agreement.  \
(2) The Contracting Party within whose zone a situation of the kind described
in Article 1 of this Agreement occurs,shall make the necessary assessments of j
the nature and extent of any casualty or, as the case may be, of the type and 3
approximate quantity of oil or other harmful substances and the direction and |
1
speed of movement thereof. f
\
(3) The Contracting Party concerned shall immediately inform all the other |
Contracting Parties through their competent authorities of its assessments and
\
(tiiej
I\

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of any action which it has taken to deal with the oil or other harmful 
substances and shall keep these substances under observation as long as they are 
present in its zone.
(4) The obligations of the Contracting Parties under the provisions of this 
Article with respect to the zones of joint responsibility shall be the subject 
of special technical arrangements to be concluded between the Parties 
concerned. These arrangements shall be communicated to the other Contracting 
Parties.
ARTICLE 7
A Contracting Party requiring assistance to deal with pollution or the 
prospective presence of pollution at sea or on its coast may call on the help of 
the other Contracting Parties. Contracting Parties requesting assistance shall 
specify the kind of assistance they require. The Contracting Parties called 
upon for help in accordance with this Article shall use their best endeavours to 
bring such assistance as is within their ptwer taking into account, particularly 
in the case of pollution by harmful substanc \s other than oil, the technological 
means available to them.
ARTICLE 8
(1) The provisions of this Agreement shall not be interpreted as in any way 
prejudicing the rights and obligations of the Contracting Parties under 
international law, especially in the field of the prevention and combating of 
marine pollution.
(2) In no case shall the division into zones referred to in Article 6 of this 
Agreement be invoked as a precedent or argument in any matter concerning 
sovereignty or jurisdiction.
ARTICLE 9
(1) In the absence of an agreement concerning the financial arrangements 
governing actions of Contracting Parties to deal with pollution which might be

- 5 -
concluded on a bilateral or multilateral basis or on the occasion of a joint 
combating operation, Contracting Parties shall bear the costs of their 
respective actions in dealing with pollution in accordance with subparagraph (a) 
or subparagraph (b) below:
(a) if the action was taken by one Contracting Party at the express 
request of another Contracting Party, the Contracting Party requesting such 
assistance shall reimburse to the assisting Contracting Party the costs of its 
action;
(b) if the action was taken by a Contracting Party on its own 
initiative, this Contracting Party shall bear the costs of its action.
(2) The Contracting Party requesting assistance may cancel its request at any 
time, but in that case it shall bear the costs already incurred or committed by 
the assisting Contracting Party.
ARTICLE 10
Unless otherwise agreed the costs of action taken by a Contracting Party at the 
request of another Contracting Party shall be calculated according to the law 
and current practice in the assisting country concerning the reimbursement of 
such costs by a person or entity liable.
ARTICLE 11
Article 9 of this Agreement shall not be interpreted as in any way prejudicing 
the rights of Contracting Parties to recover from third parties the costs of 
action to deal with pollution or the threat of pollution under other applicable 
provisions and rules of national and international law.
ARTICLE 12
(1) Meetings of the Contracting Parties shall be held at regular intervals and 
at any time when, due to special, circumstances, it is so decided in accordance 
with the Rules of Procedure.

(2) The Contracting Parties at their first meeting shall draw up Rules of 
Procedure and Financial Rules, which shall be adopted by unanimous vote.
(3) The Depositary Government shall convene the first meeting of Contracting 
Parties as soon as possible after the entry into force of this Agreement.
ARTICLE 13
Within the areas of its competence, the European Economic Community is entitled 
to a number of votes equal to the number of its Member States which are 
Contracting Parties to the present Agreement. The European Economic Community 
shall not exercise its right to vote in cases where its Member States exercise 
theirs and conversely.
ARTICLE 14
It shall be the duty of meetings of the Contracting Parties:
(a) to exercise overall supervision over the implementation of this 
Agreement;
(b) to review the effectiveness of the measures taken under this 
Agreement;
(c) to carry out such other functions as may be necessary under the 
terms of this Agreement.
ARTICLE 15
(1) The Contracting Parties shall make provision for the performance of 
secretariat duties in relation to this Agreement, taking into account existing 
arrangements in the framework of other international agreements on the 
prevention of marine pollution in force for the same region as this Agreement.
(2) Each Contracting Party shall contribute 2.5% towards the annual

- 7 -
expenditure of the Agreement. The balance of the Agreement';·' expenditure shall 
be divided among Contracting Parties other than the EEC in proportion to their 
Gross National Product in accordance with the scale of assessment adopted 
regularly by the United Nations General Assembly. In no case shall the 
contribution of a Contracting Party to this balance exceed 20% of the balance.
ARTICLE 16
(1) Without prejudice to Article 17 of this Agreement, a proposal by a 
Contracting Party for the amendment of this Agreement or its Annex shall be 
considered at a meeting of the Contracting Parties. Following adoption of the 
proposal by unanimous vote the amendment shall be communicated by the Depositary 
Government to the Contracting Parties.
(2) Such an amendment shall enter into force on the first day of the second 
month following the date on which the Depositary Government has received 
notifications of approval from all Contracting Parties.
ARTICLE 17
(1) Two or more Contracting Parties may modify the common boundaries of their 
zones described in the Annex to this Agreement.
(2) Such a modification shall enter into force for all Contracting Parties on 
the first day of the sixth month following the date of its communication by the 
Depositary Government unless, within a period of three months following that 
communication, a Contracting Party has expressed an objection or has requested 
consultation on the matter.
ARTICLE 18
(1) This Agreement shall be open for signature by the Governments of the
States invited to participate in the Conference on dealing with pollution, held 
at Bonn from to ,  and by the European Economic Community.
(2) These States and the European Economic Community may become parties to 
this Agreement either by signature without reservation as to ratification,

-  8 -
acceptance or _-:ppro\ .1 or by signature subject to ratification, acceptance or 
approval followed by atification, acceptance or approval.
(3) Instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited 
with the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany.
ARTICLE 19
(1) This Agreement shall enter into force on the first day of the second month 
following the date on which the Governments of all the States mentioned in 
Article 18 of this Agreement and the European Economic Community have signed the 
Agreement without reservation as to ratification, acceptance or approval or have 
deposited an instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval.
(2) Upon the entry into force of this Agreement the Agreement for Co-operation 
in dealing with Pollution of the North Sei by Oil, done at Bonn on 9 June 1969, 
shall cease to be in force.
ARTICLE 20
(1) The Contracting Parties may unanimously invite any other coastal State of 
the North East Atlantic area to accede to this Agreement.
(2) In such a case Article 2 of this Agreement and its Annex shall be amended 
as necesssary. The amendments shall be adopted by unanimous vote at a meeting 
of the Contracting Parties and shall take effect upon the entry into force of 
this Agreement for the acceding State.
ARTICLE 21
(1) For each State acceding to this Agreement, the Agreement shall enter into 
force on the first day of the second month following the date of deposit by such 
State of its instrument of accession.
(2) Instruments of accession shall be deposited with the Government of the 
Federal Republic of Germany.

ARTICLE 22
(1) After this Agreement has been in force for five years it may be denounced 
by any Contracting Party.
(2) Denunciation shall be effected by a notification in writing addressed to 
the Depositary Government which shall notify all the other Contracting Parties 
of any denunciation received and of the date of its receipt.
(3) A denunciation shall take effect one year after its receipt by the 
Depositary Government.
ARTICLE 23
The Depositary Government shall inform the Contracting Parties and those 
referred to in Article 18 of this Agreement of:
(a) any signature of this Agreement;
(b) the deposit of any instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval 
or accession and of the receipt of any notice of denunciation;
(c) the date of entry into force of this Agreement;
(d) the receipt of any notification of approval relating to amendments 
to this Agreement or its Annex and of the date of entry into force of such 
amendments.
ARTICLE 24
The original of this Agreement, of which the English, French and German texts 
are equally authentic, shall be deposited with the Government of the Federal 
Republic of Germany, which shall send certified copies thereof to the 
Contracting Parties and which shall transmit a certified copy to the 
Secretary-General of the United Nations for registration and publication in

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accordance with Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations.
In witness whereof ........................................
Done at ........................................

ANNEX
Description of the zones referred to in Article 6 of this Agreement
The zones, with the exception of the zones of joint responsibility, are 
limited by lines joining the following points:
Denm ark Norway
55°03'00",0 N 8° 22CIO",0E 61°00'00",0 N 4°30'00" 0E
55°10'00",0 N 7°3000",0E 61°00100",0 N 2°00'00" ,0E
55°10'00",0 N 2°1500",0E 57°00'00",0 N 1°30'00" ,0E
57°00100",0 N 1°3000",0E 57°00'00",0 N 2°25'04" ,6E
57°00'00",0 N 2°2504",6E 56°35'42",0 N 2°36'48" ,0E
56°35'42",0 N 2°3648",0E 56°05'12",0 N 3°15'00" ,0E
56°05112",0 N 3°1500",0E 56°35'30",0 N 5°02'00" 0E
56°35'30",0 N 5°0200",0E 57°10'30",0 N 6°56!12" ,0E
57°10'30",0 N 6°5612",0E 57°29154",0 N 7°59'00" ,0E
57°29'54”,0 N 7°5900",0E 57°37'06",0 N 8°27'30" ,0E
57°37'06",0 N 8°2730",0E 57°41'48",0 N 8°53'18" 0E
57°41'48",0 N 8°53'18" ,0E 57°59'18",0 N 9°23'00" ,0E
57°59'18",0 N 9°2300"0E 58°15'41",2 N 10°01'48" E
58°15'41",2 N 10°0148"1E 58°10'00",0 N 10°00'00" ,0E
58°10'00",0 N 10°0000"0N 58°54,00",0 N 10°43'00" 0E
57°48'00",0 N 10°5700"0E To be continued along the
57°44'48",0 N 10°3800"0E Norwegian-Swedish border
F e d e r a l R e p u b lic  o f  Germany Sweden
53°34' N 6°381E 5 7 ° 5 4 ' N 11°28'  E
54°00'  N 5°30'E 57°48'  N 10°57'  E
54°00 '  N 2°40 'E 58°10' N 10°00' E
55°10'  N 2°15 'E 58°54' N 10°43' E
55°101  N 7°30'E To be continued along the
55°03 '  N 8°22'E Norwegian-Swedish border
N e th e rla n d s U n ite d  K ingdom
51°32'  N 3°18 'E 61°00'  N 0°50'  W
51°32'  N 2°061E 61°001  N 2°00' E
52°30'  N 3°10 'E 57°00' N 1°30'  E
54°00' N 2°401E 52°30' N 3°10' E
54°00'  N 5°301E 51°32' N 2°06’  E
53°34' N 6°38 'E
The zones of joint responsibility are as follows:
(1) B e lg iu m , F ra n c e  a n d  U n ite d  K ingdom
Sea area between parallels 51*32' N and 51°06' N.
(2) F ra n c e  a n d .  U n ite d  K ingdom
The English Channel south-west of parallel 510□6' N to a line drawn 
between the points 49°52' N 07°44' W and 48°27' N 06°25' W.
(3) D e n m a rk  a n d  Sweden
Sea area between the lines in Skagerrak joining the points 
57°54' N 11°28'  E 
57°44',8 N 10°38'  E 
57°44',8 N 11°281  E