Article 1 
The position to be taken on behalf of the Union within the International Maritime Organization’s Marine Environment Protection Committee during its 75 th session shall be to support the adoption of the amendments to regulations 2, 14 and 18 and appendices I and VI of Annex VI to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, as laid down in the Annex to IMO document MEPC 75/3. That position covers the amendments concerned to the extent that those amendments fall under the exclusive competence of the Union and may affect Union common rules.
Amendment rationale: Context of the proposal 1.1. The Convention on the International Maritime Organization The Convention on the International Maritime Organization (IMO) establishes the IMO. The IMO’s purpose is to provide a forum for co-operation in the field of regulation and practices relating to technical matters of all kinds affecting shipping engaged in international trade. It furthermore aims to encourage the general adoption of the highest practicable standards in matters concerning maritime safety, efficiency of navigation and prevention and control of marine pollution from ships, promoting a level playing field. It also to deal with related administrative and legal matters. The Convention entered into force on 17 March 1958. All Member States are parties to the Convention. All Member States are parties to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea ('SOLAS'), 1974, which entered into force on 25 May 1980. The Union is not a party to SOLAS. All Member States are parties to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (‘MARPOL’), 1973, which entered into force on 2 October 1983 and to Annex VI, which entered into force on 18 May 2005. The Union is not a party to MARPOL. 1.2. The International Maritime Organization The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is the United Nations’ specialised agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships. It is the global standard-setting authority for the safety, security and environmental performance of international shipping. Its main role is to create a regulatory framework for the shipping industry that is fair and effective, universally adopted and universally implemented. Membership in the organisation is open to all States and all EU Member States are members of the IMO. Since 1974, the European Commission has held an observer status in the International Maritime Organisation. This is based on an Arrangement for Co-operation and Collaboration between the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO) and the Commission of the European Communities on matters of mutual interest to the parties. The IMO Maritime Safety Committee also consists of all the IMO Members and meets at least once a year. It considers any matter within the scope of the Organization concerned with aids to navigation, construction and equipment of vessels, manning from a safety standpoint, rules for the prevention of collisions, handling of dangerous cargoes, maritime safety procedures and requirements, hydrographic information, log-books and navigational records, marine casualty investigation, salvage and rescue, and any other matters directly affecting maritime safety. The IMO Maritime Safety Committee provides machinery for performing any duties assigned to it by the IMO Convention, the IMO Assembly or the IMO Council, or any duty within the above scope which may be assigned to it by or under any other international instrument and accepted by the IMO. Decisions of the Maritime Safety Committee, and of its subsidiary bodies shall be adopted by a majority of the Members. The IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee consists of all the IMO Members and meets at least once a year. It addresses environmental issues under the scope of the organisation as regards the control and prevention of ship-source pollution covered by the MARPOL treaty, including oil, chemicals carried in bulk, sewage, garbage and emissions from ships to air, including air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. Other matters covered include ballast water management, anti-fouling systems, ship recycling, pollution preparedness and response, and identification of special areas and particularly sensitive sea areas. The IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee provides machinery for performing any duties assigned to it by the IMO Convention, the IMO Assembly or the IMO Council, or any duty within the above scope which may be assigned to it by or under any other international instrument and accepted by the IMO. Decisions of the Marine Environment Protection Committee, and of its subsidiary bodies shall be adopted by a majority of the Members. 1.3. The envisaged act of the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee On 4-11 November 2020, during its 102 nd session (MSC 102), the Maritime Safety Committee is to approve an MSC-MEPC.5 Circular, which will set out the Model Agreement for Governments to use to authorise Recognised Organisations acting on their behalf.
Revised version (Article 1 ):
The position to be taken on behalf of the Union within the International Maritime Organization’s Marine Environment Protection Committee during its 75th session shall be to support the adoption of the amendments to regulations 2, 14 and 18 and appendices I and VI of Annex VI to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, as laid down in the Annex to IMO document MEPC 75/3, and the approval of the MSC-MEPC.5 circular, as laid down in Annex 8 to IMO document III 6/15. That position covers the amendments and the circular concerned to the extent that those amendments and that circular fall under the exclusive competence of the Union and may affect Union common rules.
Article 2 
1. The position to be taken on behalf of the Union within the International Maritime Organization’s Maritime Safety Committee during its 102 nd session shall be to support the adoption of the amendments to: (a) Parts A-1, B, B-1, B-2 to B-4 of Chapter II-1 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, as laid down in Annex 1 to IMO document MSC 102/3; (b) Parts A-1 and B-1 of the International Code of Safety for Ships Using Gases or Other Low-flashpoint Fuels, as laid down in Annex 2 to IMO document MSC 102/3; (c) resolution A.658(16) on the use and fitting of retro-reflective materials on life-saving appliances. 2. The position referred to in paragraph 1 covers the amendments concerned to the extent that those amendments fall under the exclusive competence of the Union and may affect Union common rules.
Amendment rationale: Context of the proposal 1.1. The Convention on the International Maritime Organization The Convention on the International Maritime Organization (IMO) establishes the IMO. The IMO’s purpose is to provide a forum for co-operation in the field of regulation and practices relating to technical matters of all kinds affecting shipping engaged in international trade. It furthermore aims to encourage the general adoption of the highest practicable standards in matters concerning maritime safety, efficiency of navigation and prevention and control of marine pollution from ships, promoting a level playing field. It also to deal with related administrative and legal matters. The Convention entered into force on 17 March 1958. All Member States are parties to the Convention. All Member States are parties to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea ('SOLAS'), 1974, which entered into force on 25 May 1980. The Union is not a party to SOLAS. All Member States are parties to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (‘MARPOL’), 1973, which entered into force on 2 October 1983 and to Annex VI, which entered into force on 18 May 2005. The Union is not a party to MARPOL. 1.2. The International Maritime Organization The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is the United Nations’ specialised agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships. It is the global standard-setting authority for the safety, security and environmental performance of international shipping. Its main role is to create a regulatory framework for the shipping industry that is fair and effective, universally adopted and universally implemented. Membership in the organisation is open to all States and all EU Member States are members of the IMO. Since 1974, the European Commission has held an observer status in the International Maritime Organisation. This is based on an Arrangement for Co-operation and Collaboration between the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO) and the Commission of the European Communities on matters of mutual interest to the parties. The IMO Maritime Safety Committee also consists of all the IMO Members and meets at least once a year. It considers any matter within the scope of the Organization concerned with aids to navigation, construction and equipment of vessels, manning from a safety standpoint, rules for the prevention of collisions, handling of dangerous cargoes, maritime safety procedures and requirements, hydrographic information, log-books and navigational records, marine casualty investigation, salvage and rescue, and any other matters directly affecting maritime safety. The IMO Maritime Safety Committee provides machinery for performing any duties assigned to it by the IMO Convention, the IMO Assembly or the IMO Council, or any duty within the above scope which may be assigned to it by or under any other international instrument and accepted by the IMO. Decisions of the Maritime Safety Committee, and of its subsidiary bodies shall be adopted by a majority of the Members. The IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee consists of all the IMO Members and meets at least once a year. It addresses environmental issues under the scope of the organisation as regards the control and prevention of ship-source pollution covered by the MARPOL treaty, including oil, chemicals carried in bulk, sewage, garbage and emissions from ships to air, including air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. Other matters covered include ballast water management, anti-fouling systems, ship recycling, pollution preparedness and response, and identification of special areas and particularly sensitive sea areas. The IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee provides machinery for performing any duties assigned to it by the IMO Convention, the IMO Assembly or the IMO Council, or any duty within the above scope which may be assigned to it by or under any other international instrument and accepted by the IMO. Decisions of the Marine Environment Protection Committee, and of its subsidiary bodies shall be adopted by a majority of the Members. 1.3. The envisaged act of the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee On 4-11 November 2020, during its 102 nd session (MSC 102), the Maritime Safety Committee is to approve an MSC-MEPC.5 Circular, which will set out the Model Agreement for Governments to use to authorise Recognised Organisations acting on their behalf.
Revised version (Article 2 ):
2. The position referred to in paragraph 1 covers the circular and the amendments concerned to the extent that that circular and those amendments fall under the exclusive competence of the Union and may affect Union common rules.
Article 3 
1. The positions to be taken on behalf of the Union as set out in Articles 1 and 2 shall be expressed by the Member States, which are all members of the IMO, acting jointly in the interests of the Union. 2. Minor changes to the positions referred to in Articles 1 and 2 may be agreed upon without further decision of the Council.
Article 4 
Member States are hereby authorised to give their consent to be bound, in the interests of the Union, by the amendments referred to in Articles 1 and 2, to the extent that those amendments fall under the exclusive competence of the Union.
Amendment rationale: Context of the proposal 1.1. The Convention on the International Maritime Organization The Convention on the International Maritime Organization (IMO) establishes the IMO. The IMO’s purpose is to provide a forum for co-operation in the field of regulation and practices relating to technical matters of all kinds affecting shipping engaged in international trade. It furthermore aims to encourage the general adoption of the highest practicable standards in matters concerning maritime safety, efficiency of navigation and prevention and control of marine pollution from ships, promoting a level playing field. It also to deal with related administrative and legal matters. The Convention entered into force on 17 March 1958. All Member States are parties to the Convention. All Member States are parties to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea ('SOLAS'), 1974, which entered into force on 25 May 1980. The Union is not a party to SOLAS. All Member States are parties to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (‘MARPOL’), 1973, which entered into force on 2 October 1983 and to Annex VI, which entered into force on 18 May 2005. The Union is not a party to MARPOL. 1.2. The International Maritime Organization The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is the United Nations’ specialised agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships. It is the global standard-setting authority for the safety, security and environmental performance of international shipping. Its main role is to create a regulatory framework for the shipping industry that is fair and effective, universally adopted and universally implemented. Membership in the organisation is open to all States and all EU Member States are members of the IMO. Since 1974, the European Commission has held an observer status in the International Maritime Organisation. This is based on an Arrangement for Co-operation and Collaboration between the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO) and the Commission of the European Communities on matters of mutual interest to the parties. The IMO Maritime Safety Committee also consists of all the IMO Members and meets at least once a year. It considers any matter within the scope of the Organization concerned with aids to navigation, construction and equipment of vessels, manning from a safety standpoint, rules for the prevention of collisions, handling of dangerous cargoes, maritime safety procedures and requirements, hydrographic information, log-books and navigational records, marine casualty investigation, salvage and rescue, and any other matters directly affecting maritime safety. The IMO Maritime Safety Committee provides machinery for performing any duties assigned to it by the IMO Convention, the IMO Assembly or the IMO Council, or any duty within the above scope which may be assigned to it by or under any other international instrument and accepted by the IMO. Decisions of the Maritime Safety Committee, and of its subsidiary bodies shall be adopted by a majority of the Members. The IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee consists of all the IMO Members and meets at least once a year. It addresses environmental issues under the scope of the organisation as regards the control and prevention of ship-source pollution covered by the MARPOL treaty, including oil, chemicals carried in bulk, sewage, garbage and emissions from ships to air, including air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. Other matters covered include ballast water management, anti-fouling systems, ship recycling, pollution preparedness and response, and identification of special areas and particularly sensitive sea areas. The IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee provides machinery for performing any duties assigned to it by the IMO Convention, the IMO Assembly or the IMO Council, or any duty within the above scope which may be assigned to it by or under any other international instrument and accepted by the IMO. Decisions of the Marine Environment Protection Committee, and of its subsidiary bodies shall be adopted by a majority of the Members. 1.3. The envisaged act of the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee On 4-11 November 2020, during its 102 nd session (MSC 102), the Maritime Safety Committee is to approve an MSC-MEPC.5 Circular, which will set out the Model Agreement for Governments to use to authorise Recognised Organisations acting on their behalf.
Revised version (Article 4 ):
Member States are hereby authorised to give their consent to be bound, in the interests of the Union, by the amendments and the circular referred to in Articles 1 and 2, to the extent that those amendments and that circular fall under the exclusive competence of the Union.
Article 5 
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.