Artikel 18

1. Meetings of Contracting Parties or Special Meetings of Contracting Parties shall keep under continuing review the implementation of this Protocol and evaluate its effectiveness with a view to identifying means of strengthening action, where necessary, to prevent, reduce and where practicable eliminate pollution caused by dumping and incineration at sea of wastes or other matter. To these ends, Meetings of Contracting Parties or Special Meetings of Contracting Parties may:
.1 review and adopt amendments to this Protocol in accordance with articles 21 and 22;
.2 establish subsidiary bodies, as required, to consider any matter with a view to facilitating the effective implementation of this Protocol;
.3 invite appropriate expert bodies to advise the Contracting Parties or the Organization on matters relevant to this Protocol;
.4 promote co-operation with competent international organizations concerned with the prevention and control of pollution;
.5 consider the information made available pursuant to article 9.4;
.6 develop or adopt, in consultation with competent international organizations, procedures referred to in article 8.2, including basic criteria for determining exceptional and emergency situations, and procedures for consultative advice and the safe disposal of matter at sea in such circumstances;
.7 consider and adopt resolutions; and
.8 consider any additional action that may be required.
2. The Contracting Parties at their first Meeting shall establish rules of procedure as necessary.