RAMOGE Agreement: exemplary illustration of strong cooperation celebrates 40th anniversary

De gauche à droite : Les signataires : M. le Préfet maritime de la Méditerranée, le Vice-amiral Yves Joly ; M. Patrice Cellario, Conseiller pour l'Intérieur ; Mme Maria Carmela Giarratano, Directeur Général au Ministère de l’Environnement italien avec S.E. M. Hadelin de la Tour du Pin, Ambassadeur de France à Monaco ; S.E.  M. Serge Telle, Ministre d'Etat et M. Gian Luca Galletti, Ministre de l'Environnement Italien ©Charly Gallo Centre de Presse

 

On Tuesday 26 April, the first event celebrating the fortieth anniversary of the RAMOGE Agreement took place in Monaco, with H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince in attendance.

High-level representatives from each of the countries party to the Agreement spoke before an audience of numerous personalities during a conference at the Port Hercule marine terminal. Each of them welcomed the progress made by the RAMOGE Agreement over the last 40 years.

In their speeches, H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince, H.E. Mr Hadelin de la Tour du Pin, France’s Ambassador to Monaco, representing the French Minister of the Environment, Energy and Marine Affairs, and Mr Gian Luca Galletti, the Italian Minister of the Environment, paid tribute to the visionary initiative of Prince Rainier III. In 1976, at a time when protecting the environment was not a major concern for states, Prince Rainier III initiated cooperation between the three coastal nations to preserve their shared maritime heritage: the Mediterranean.

The representatives of the three states unanimously reaffirmed the importance of pursuing the work of the Agreement, both in combatting pollution and in preserving biodiversity. They expressed their hope that cooperation under the RAMOGE banner would continue to strengthen and expand to new areas essential for the preservation of the marine environment, such as issues relating to the impact of climate change.

The pollution incident which occurred in the area around Genoa on 17 April was cited as an example of the relevance and effectiveness of RAMOGE cooperation. Thanks to the speed with which the RAMOGEPOL plan was activated, resources from the countries party to the Agreement were mobilised as quickly as possible, thus avoiding major damage in the Mediterranean.

In their conviction that the RAMOGE Agreement is an exemplary model of solidarity, the representatives of the three states expressed their wish to see this model exported to the entire Mediterranean Basin, respecting the specific nature of each maritime area.

H.S.H. Prince Albert II stressed that the numerous achievements of the RAMOGE Agreement should enable it to play a leading role in the Mediterranean, while continuing its activities for the benefit of local communities and users of the sea.

At the end of the speeches, the updated RAMOGEPOL plan was signed by Ms Maria Carmela Giarratano, Director General for the Protection of Nature and the Sea at the Italian Ministry of the Environment, Vice-Admiral Yves Joly, Maritime Prefect for the Mediterranean, and Mr Patrice Cellario, Minister of the Interior.

The event was followed the next day by an operational demonstration, with the RAMOGEPOL 2016 pollution control exercise in Monegasque waters.

The exercise simulated a collision between two merchant vessels off the coast of Monaco, which unfolded according to a scenario prepared in advance (see box). It enabled the activation of the RAMOGEPOL plan (intervention plan to combat accidental marine pollution incidents in the Mediterranean) in order to coordinate and pool resources from France, Italy and Monaco to improve the responsiveness and effectiveness of pollution control measures.

It was possible to see the numerous resources engaged in the exercise in Monegasque waters (add photos).

The debriefing for the exercise will take place in a month’s time, providing an opportunity to highlight areas which could be improved.

Other RAMOGE 40th anniversary events are expected to take place throughout the year.

For more information, contact:

RAMOGE Agreement Secretariat
7 avenue des Papalins

Le Michelangelo
98000 MONACO
Tel: + 377 98 98 42 29

www.ramoge.org

contact@ramoge.org