The Lisbon Agreement relates to the protection of the coasts and waters of the north-east Atlantic against pollution from the southern Channel to the Moroccan coasts. The Lisbon Agreement,  as contracted between Spain, Portugal, Morocco and France was drafted in 1993 and came into force on 1st Feburary 2014. The agreement provides potential protection for a region not covered by any of the other conventions of the European Union,  to assist those States to react swiftly and effectively to pollution incidents. Contracting Parties are required to set up their own system of prevention and control, to equip themselves with pollution control equipment and to set their own national plans of action.