Bilateral Agreements

International conventions set out principles; bilateral agreements govern their concrete implementation: who does what, within what time, with what means. They take into account the legal and administrative specificities of both parties.

OIMAP acts as a facilitator: it offers templates, provides experts and monitors application.

The agreements rest on the same references: the 1954 Hague Protocol, the 1970 UNESCO Convention, the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention and the OIMAP Guidelines 2019. This ensures their consistency and facilitates their mutual recognition.

A model agreement is available in the member area and can be adapted to the needs of the parties.

Any Member State may conclude a bilateral agreement with another Member State, with the Organization's support. The text is signed by the authorized authorities, and not by the focal point, who then handles follow-up.

The agreement is registered with the Secretariat so that it can be consulted by other members, unless there is a confidentiality clause.

Over the years, the agreements have enabled the return of 847 works, the training of 8,940 officers and the coordination of 23 operations in 2024. These figures are monitored every year and presented to the General Assembly.

Feedback from experience informs revisions of the model agreement.

Each agreement provides for a monitoring committee that meets at least once a year. It assesses progress, resolves difficulties and proposes adjustments.

A summary review is presented at the plenary of focal points.