What is the Conference of the Parties in the BBNJ Treaty?
The BBNJ Treaty established the Conference of the Parties (COP) as part of its institutional arrangement. The Parties to the BBNJ Treaty will be part of the COP. The COP is the main decision-making body of the BBNJ Treaty (except for certain matters associated with environmental impact assessments). The COP will execute tasks ranging from adoption of decisions and recommendations related to the implementation of the BBNJ Trearty to adopting a budget and establishing subsidiary bodies as deemed necessary for the implementation of the BBNJ Treaty.
In terms of decision-making, the COP is required to make every effort to adopt decisions and recommendations by consensus. If all efforts are exhausted to achieve a consensus, the COP will vote on questions on substance by a two-thirds majority of the Parties present and voting, and decisions on questions of procedure will be adopted by a majority of the Parties present and voting. The budget will be adopted by a three-fourths majority of the parties present and voting if all efforts to reach consensus have been exhausted. The COP may also request the International Tribunal for Law of the Sea to give an adisory opinion on a legal question on conformity with the BBNJ Treaty, with certain exceptions.
Each Party has one vote. One exception is a Party that is a regional economic integration organization Party to the BBNJ Treaty (e.g., European Union). On matters of competence, such Party must exercise its right to vote with a number of votes equal to the number of its member countries that are Parties to the BBNJ Treaty. However, the regional economic integration organization Party must refrain from exercising its right to vote if any of its member countries exercise their right to vote, and vice versa.
Ref. BBNJ Treaty, Art. 47 and 64.
For information about Parties to the BBNJ Treaty, visit the page here. For information about the BBNJ Treaty's institutional arrangements, visit the page here.
When will the first Conference of the Parties take place?
The first Conference of the Parties must take place no later than one year after the BBNJ Treaty enters into force.
Ref. BBNJ Treaty Art.47.2
For information about entry into force, visit the page here.
How often will the Conference of the Parties occur after the initial meeting?
Ordinary meetings of the Conference of the Parties (COP) will be held at regular intervals to be determined by the COP. Extraordinary meetings may be held at other times, in accordance with the rules of procedure to be adopted by the COP.
Ref. BBNJ Treaty Art.47.2
Where can I find information about the Conference of the Parties meetings?
Links to the Conference of the Parties meetings will be provided on this page when available.