Council Decision (EU) 2022/12 of 2 December 2021 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union at the 22nd meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean (Barcelona Convention) and its Protocols as regards the adoption of a decision to submit a proposal to designate the Mediterranean Sea, as a whole, as an emission control area for sulphur oxides (Med SOx ECA) pursuant to Annex VI to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL Convention)

• Published date: 07 January 2022
• Subject Matter: External relations,Environment,Pollution
• Official Gazette Publication: Official Journal of the European Union, L 004, 7 January 2022

7.1.2022 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 4/10

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COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2022/12

of 2 December 2021

on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union at the 22nd meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean (Barcelona Convention) and its Protocols as regards the adoption of a decision to submit a proposal to designate the Mediterranean Sea, as a whole, as an emission control area for sulphur oxides (Med SOx ECA) pursuant to Annex VI to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL Convention)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 192(1) in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) The amended Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean (‘the Barcelona Convention’) was concluded by the Union by means of Council Decision 1999/802/EC (1) and entered into force on 9 July 2004.

(2) Pursuant to Article 18(2), point (vi), of the Barcelona Convention, the meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention and its Protocols is to consider and undertake any action that may be required for the achievement of the purposes of the Barcelona Convention and the Protocols. Pursuant to Rule 43 of the Rules of Procedure for meetings of the Contracting Parties, unless otherwise provided by the Barcelona Convention, the Protocols or the financial terms of reference, substantive decisions are to be made by a two-thirds majority of the Contracting Parties present and voting.

(3) During their 22nd meeting from 7 to 10 December 2021, the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention and its Protocols are expected to adopt a decision (‘the Decision of the Contracting Parties’) to submit to the 78th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (‘MEPC 78’) of the International Maritime Organization in 2022 a proposal to designate the Mediterranean Sea, as a whole, as an emission control area for sulphur oxides (Med SOx ECA) and to specify the date of entry into force.

(4) The Decision of the Contracting Parties relates to the protection of the environment, which is a shared

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