Spain adheres to the Bonn Agreement against pollution of the North Sea

Decree No. 2026-837 of September 1, 2026, published in the Official Journal of the French Republic No. 0205 of September 3, 2026, publishes the decision regarding the accession of the Kingdom of Spain to the Bonn Agreement of September 13, 1983, concerning cooperation in combating pollution of the North Sea by hydrocarbons and other hazardous substances. Signed by the Prime Minister and the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, this text (NOR EAEJ2621804D) makes the decision adopted on December 1, 2019, by the contracting parties enforceable under French law.

An accession based on Article 20 of the agreement

The 1983 Bonn Agreement organizes cooperation between coastal states to prevent and combat pollution of the North Sea by hydrocarbons and other hazardous substances. Its Article 20 allows the contracting parties to invite, by unanimity, any other coastal state of the North-East Atlantic to adhere to the text, subject to amending Article 2 and the annex accordingly.

By a unanimous vote, the parties reaffirmed their intention to invite Spain and welcomed its wish to adhere. The adopted decision includes several amendments:

• insertion of the words “of the Kingdom of Spain” in the preamble, before “of the French Republic”;
• formal invitation addressed to Spain in accordance with Article 20;
• rewriting of Article 2 defining the North Sea region;
• amendment of the annex, the wording of which appears as an appendix to the decision.

A cooperation zone extended to the Bay of Biscay

The amended Article 2 redefines the North Sea region as comprising the North Sea proper south of latitude 61°N, the Skagerrak, but also the Bay of Biscay and other waters: the Irish Sea, the Celtic Sea, the Malin Sea, the “Great Minch”, the “Little Minch”, part of the Norwegian Sea, and parts of the North-East Atlantic.

The new annex precisely sets the geographical limits of this expanded zone. The line limiting the region to the south and southwest starts from the westernmost point of the Spanish coast (42°30'04.25"N, 8°52'18.22"W) and follows rhumb lines to the continental shelf boundary between France and the United Kingdom, as defined by the arbitral award of June 30, 1977. To the west and north, the boundary is based notably on the Irish pollution combat responsibility zone and on the British Merchant Shipping Regulations of 1996, amended in 1997.

Redefined national responsibility zones

The annex also details the limits of the national areas of responsibility provided for in Article 6 of the agreement for Denmark, Germany, Ireland, and the Netherlands, as well as the common areas of responsibility for Denmark and Germany and for Germany and the Netherlands. The positions of the points are determined in accordance with the European Geodetic Reference System (1950 version).

Entry into force

In accordance with paragraph 5 of the decision, the amendments shall enter into force on the first day of the second month following the date of deposit by Spain of its instrument of accession. The decree charges the Prime Minister and the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, each as it may concern them, with the execution of the text.

For readers, this accession extends the marine pollution cooperation mechanism to the Spanish Atlantic coast and the Bay of Biscay, strengthening the coordination of coastal states in the face of risks of oil spills and hazardous substances in an expanded maritime area.

Official source: Official Journal of the French Republic No. 0205 of September 3, 2026 — Decree No. 2026-837 of September 1, 2026 (NOR EAEJ2621804D), reference JORFTEXT000054791163.