The Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution

The Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution is established in implementation of the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollutioni The Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution was signed in Bucharest in April 1992, and ratified by all six legislative assemblies of the Black Sea countries in the beginning of 1994. Also referred to as "Bucharest Convention", it is the basic framework of agreement and three specific Protocols, which are: the control of land-based sources of pollution; dumping of waste; and joint action in the case of accidents (such as oil spills). The implementation of the provisions of the Convention is supported by the Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution (also referred to as the Istanbul Commission), and its Permanent Secretariat, stationed in Istanbul, Türkiye. v , (as defined in Article XVII). It is often referred to shortly as the Black Sea Commission, and more rarely as the Istanbul Commission,

The Black Sea Commission comprises one representative of each of the Contracting Parties (Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russian Federation, Türkiye and Ukraine) to the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution. It is chaired on a rotation principle. The Black Sea Commission meets at least once a year and at request of any one of the contracting parties at any time. (See Article 17i The Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution was signed in Bucharest in April 1992, and ratified by all six legislative assemblies of the Black Sea countries in the beginning of 1994. Also referred to as "Bucharest Convention" ... Article XVII - The Commission ... 7. The Commission shall be assisted in its activities by a permanent Secretariat. The Commission shall nominate the Executive Director and other officials of the Secretariat. The Executive Director shall appoint the technical staff in accordance with the rules to be established by the Commission. The Secretariat shall be composed of nationals of all Black Sea States. 8. The Commission and the Secretariat shall have their headquarters in Istanbul. The location of the headquarters may be changed by the Contracting Parties by consensus. ... v )

The main functions of the Black Commission's functions are defined in Article 18i The Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution was signed in Bucharest in April 1992, and ratified by all six legislative assemblies of the Black Sea countries in the beginning of 1994. Also referred to as "Bucharest Convention" ... Article XVIII - Functios of the Commission 1. Promote the implementation of this Convention and inform the Contracting Parties of its work. 2. Make recommendations on measures necessary for achieving the aims of this Convention. 3. Consider questions relating to the implementation of this Convention and recommend such amendments to the Convention and to the Protocols as may be required, including amendments to Annexes of this Convention and the Protocols. 4. Elaborate criteria pertaining to the prevention, reduction and control of pollution of the marine environment of the Black Sea and to the elimination of the effects of pollution, as well as recommendations on measures to this effect. 5. Promote the adoption by the Contracting Parties of additional measures needed to protect the marine environment of the Black Sea, and to that end receive, process and disseminate to the Contracting Parties relevant scientific, technical and statistical information and promote scientific and technical research. 6. Cooperate with competent international organizations, especially with a view to developing appropriate programmes or obtaining assistance in order to achieve the purposes of this Convention. 7. Consider any questions raised by the Contracting Parties. 8. Perform other functions as foreseen in other provisions of this Convention or assigned unanimously to the Commission by the Contracting Parties. v  of the Convention as:

1. Promote the implementation of this Convention and inform the Contracting Parties of its work.

2. Make recommendations on measures necessary for achieving the aims of this Convention.

3. Consider questions relating to the implementation of this Convention and recommend such amendments to the Convention and to the Protocols as may be required, including amendments to Annexes of this Convention and the Protocols.

4. Elaborate criteria pertaining to the prevention, reduction and control of pollution of the marine environment of the Black Sea and to the elimination of the effects of pollution, as well as recommendations on measures to this effect.

5. Promote the adoption by the Contracting Parties of additional measures needed to protect the marine environment of the Black Sea, and to that end receive, process and disseminate to the Contracting Parties relevant scientific, technical and statistical information and promote scientific and technical research.

6. Cooperate with competent international organizations, especially with a view to developing appropriate programmes or obtaining assistance in order to achieve the purposes of this Convention.

7. Consider any questions raised by the Contracting Parties.

8. Perform other functions as foreseen in other provisions of this Convention or assigned unanimously to the Commission by the Contracting Parties.

The structure of the Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution is as follows:

Chair of the Commission

Mr. Ionuț-Sorin BANCIU, Secretary of State, Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests, Romania.

Commission Members

• Commissioner for Bulgaria - Mr. Borislav Sandov, Ministry of Environment and Water, Bulgaria
• Commissioner for Georgia - Ms. Maia Javakhishvili, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia
• Commissioner for Romania - Ms. Simona Olimpia Negru, Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests, Romania
• Commissioner for Russian Federation - Ms. Natalia Tretiakova,  Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation
• Commissioner for Türkiye - Ms. Fatma Varank, Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Türkiye
• Commissioner for Ukraine - Ms. Olena Kramarenko, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine

Work Programmes

Concrete activities are based on the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution, The Black Sea Strategic Action Plan, coordinated with national and regional projects/activities, International Financing Agencies, and national and regional policy measures and overall efforts of the countries to restore and preserve the environment of the Black Sea,  and a detailed work-programme, reflecting these is drawn up on an annual basis.

Work Programmes of the Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution