Established in implementation of the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution, (as defined in Article XVII), the Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution (the Black Sea Commission, is sometimes also referred to as the Istanbul Commission).
The Black Sea Commission comprises one representative of each of the Contracting Parties (Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russian Federation, Turkey 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 17)
The main functions of the Black Commission's functions are defined in Article 18 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.
Currently the members of the Commission are:
Bulgaria - Ms. Tzvetanka Dimitrova, Director, Water Management Directorate, Ministry of Environment and Water
Georgia - Ms. Nino Tkhilava, Head of Department of Integrated Environment Management, Ministry of Environment, Georgia
Romania - Mr Dan Carlan, Secretary of State, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Romania
Russian Federation - Mrs. Natalya Tretyakova, Deputy Head of Division of Department for International Cooperation, Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia
Turkey - Prof. Hasan Zuhuri Sarikaya, Undersecretary, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Turkey
Mr. Oleksandr Bon - Head of Black & Azov Seas Division, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Ukraine
and the Chairman of the Commission is:
Mrs. Ivelina Vassileva, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Environment and Water, Bulgaria
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.
