Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on Co-operation in the Field of Environmental Protection

Source Status Page

Date of adoption21.05.1974

Date of entry into force21.05.1974

Parties

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandRussian Federation+1 more

environment

Documents

Attachments

1974-TS0058.pdf

Overview

The Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on Co-operation in the Field of Environmental Protection is a bilateral environmental treaty. It regulates mutual cooperation between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Russia in the field of environmental protection on the basis of equal rights and reciprocal benefit. The purpose of the Agreement is to establish closer and long-term cooperation between interested States in environmental protection and to solve basic aspects of environmental problems by studying the inter-relationship between man and natural systems, possible measures for the prevention of pollution, pollutants, and their influence on the environment. Under this Agreement the Joint Committee was established.

Full text

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS ON CO-OPERATION IN THE FIELD OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics;

Attaching great importance to preservation and improvement of the environment and to its protection from damage due to pollution;

Believing that the development of mutual co-operation in seeking solutions to environmental problems will be useful for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and will assist in the protection and improvement of the environment in both countries;

Wishing to contribute to the establishment of closer and long-term co-operation between interested organisations in both countries in this field;

Have agreed as follows:

ARTICLE I

The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics shall develop co-operation in the field of environmental protection on the basis of equal rights and reciprocal benefit.

ARTICLE Il

(1) This co-operation shall be directed at the solution of basic aspects of environmental problems by studying the inter-relationship between man and natural systems, possible measures for the prevention of pollution, pollutants and their influence on the environment.

(2) The following fields have been identified in the first instance as of particular interest:

protection of water from pollution;

comprehensive utilisation of water resources;

protection of the air from pollution;

abatement and control of noise;

protection and management of ecological systems, including the resources of the soil, with due regard to the ecological consequences of the use and disposal of toxic chemical compounds;

monitoring the quality of the environment;

studies of environmental planning on a regional basis with reference to both urban and rural problems;

legal and administrative measures for protecting people from pollution.

(3) In the course of co-operation, the Contracting Parties shall encourage joint measures to improve existing technology and create new technology designed to protect the environment.

(4) The Contracting Parties declare that they will, by mutual agreement, share the results of their co-operation with other countries.

ARTICLE Ill

The Contracting Parties shall co-operate in the field of environmental protection in the following ways:

(a) exchange of scientists, specialists and research workers;

(b) organisation of bilateral conferences, symposia and meetings of experts;

(d) joint development and implementation of programmes and projects;

(e) other forms of co-operation which may be agreed during the course of implementation of this Agreement.

ARTICLE IV

(1) In order to further co-operation under this Agreement, the Contracting Parties shall encourage and promote the establishment and development of direct communication and co-operation between governmental, private and public institutions and organisations of the two countries, and the conclusion, where appropriate, of separate agreements and arrangements

(2) Subject to the laws and regulations in force in their respective countries, the Contracting Parties shall, in respect of environmental matters, facilitate technological and commercial exchanges between the two countries, the conclusion of agreements and contracts in respect of equipment, and also the provision of expert services.

ARTICLE V

(1) To implement this Agreement there shall be established a Joint Committee of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for Co-operation in the Field Of Environmental Protection, under the auspices of the Permanent Intergovernmental Commission for Co-operation in the Fields of Applied Science, Technology, Trade and Economic Relations. The Committee shall meet, as a rule, once a year alternately in London and Moscow. It shall consider specific measures and programmes of co-operation, approve the institutions or organisations to be responsible for carrying out these programmes, discuss the results of co-operation and report and, where necessary, make recommendations to the said Permanent Inter-governmental Commission.

(2) Each Contracting Party shall nominate a co-chairman of the Joint Committee and a co-ordinator. Co-ordinators in the period between meetings of the Joint Committee shall maintain communication, observe the progress of the various programmes of co-operation and co-ordinate the activities of the institutions and organisations co-operating under this Agreement.

ARTICLE VI

The costs of visits and exchanges under this Agreement shall be borne by the sending side unless other arrangements are agreed upon between the institutions and organisations concerned; financial arrangements for other forms of co-operation will be separately determined, as necessary.

ARTICLE VII

Nothing in this Agreement shall be so interpreted as to conflict with other agreements concluded between the Contracting Parties or between one of the Parties and a third party.

ARTICLE VIII

The territories of the Contracting Parties to which the present Agreement applies are:

(a) on the part of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and

(b) on the part of the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

ARTICLE IX

(1) This Agreement shall enter into force on the day of signature and shall remain in force for a period of five years. Thereafter it shall continue in force subject to the right of either of the Contracting Parties to give to the other at any time six months' written notice of termination.

(2) Termination of this Agreement shall not affect the validity of agreements and contracts between interested institutions and organisations in the two countries which have been concluded under the terms of this Agreement.

In witness whereof the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto by their respective Governments, have signed this Agreement.

Done in duplicate at London this 21st day of May 1974 in the English and Russian languages, both texts being equally authoritative.