Recent articles from the Financial Times set a new light on BP's activities in the Mediterranean Sea. Indeed, BP plans to start oil and gas drilling gas off the coast of Libya, more precisely in the Gulf of Sirte (five wells in total). The reserves expressed by the 22 Mediterranean States have been nourished by the two recent oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico in the United States and the Yellow Sea in China (see pictures from China). The Italian government is particularly active in gathering enough voices to get a Moratorium.
In this first post on the topic, I would like to list a number of legal issues concerning oil and gas drilling in the Mediterranean before trying to answer them in a second post:
- Can coastal states adopt a Moratorium against BP, i.e. against a decision taken by Libya?
- What is the status of international waters in that area of the Mediterranean Sea? And consequently, what is the applicable legislation?
- Does Libya possess sufficient legislation to secure a safe exploitation of deep sea petroleum resources?
- Is Libya part of any binding agreement that could constraint its action in allowing drilling (IMO, UN, etc.)?
- Where stand the Union for the Mediterranean and the Euro-Mediterranean Process? Could they be of any help?
- Is there any other institutions in place in this area and competent in that matter? E.g., the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre (REMPEC).
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