19/01/2021 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 19 January, the European Parliament gave the green light by 689 votes in favour, 1 against and 2 abstentions, to the draft Council of the EU decision approving extension of the geographical scope and improving the 1983 Bonn Agreement on cooperation in dealing with pollution of the North Sea by oil and other harmful substances. The aim of this draft decision is, on behalf of the EU, to approve both the MARPOL amendment extending the scope of the Bonn Agreement to air pollution from ships and the amendment extending its scope to Spain. These amendments were unanimously adopted by the parties to the Bonn Agreement in October 2019. Under article 20 of this regional agreement, Spain, which will now join the agreement, will need to ratify extension of the agreement to its area of responsibility. (AN)