concerning current or planned research and the results expected. They shall, to the fullest extent possible, coordinate their research. They shall, moreover, endeavour to define jointly or to standardize the scientific methods to be applied in the selection, management and monitoring of protected areas. Article 14 1. In applying the principles of cooperation set forth in Articles 12 and 13, the Parties shall forward to the Organization: (a) comparable information for monitoring the biological development of the Mediterranean environment; (b) reports, publications and information of a scientific, administrative and legal nature, in particular: - on the measures taken by the Parties in pursuance of this Protocol for the protection of the protected areas, - on the species present in the protected areas, - on any threats to those areas, especially those which may come from sources of pollution outside their control. 2. The Parties shall designate persons responsible for protected areas. Those persons shall meet at least once every two years to discuss matters of joint interest and especially to propose recommendations concerning scientific, administrative and legal information as well as the standardization and processing of data. Article 15 1. The Parties shall, directly or with the assistance of competent regional or other international organizations or bilaterally, cooperate, on the entry into force of this Protocol, in formulating and implementing programmes of mutual assistance and of assistance to those developing countries which express a need for it in the selection, establishment and management of protected areas. 2. The programmes contemplated in paragraph 1 should relate, in particular, to the training of scientific and technical personnel, scientific research, and the acquisition, utilization and production by those countries of appropriate equipment on advantageous terms to be agreed among the Parties concerned. Article 16 Changes in the delimitation or legal status of a protected area or the suppression of all or part of such an area may not take place except under a similar procedure to that followed for its establishment. Article 17 1. The ordinary meetings of the Parties to this Protocol shall be held in conjunction with the ordinary meetings of the Contracting Parties to the Convention held pursuant to Article 14 of the Convention. The Parties may also hold extraordinary meetings in conformity with that Article. 2. It shall be the function of the meetings of the Parties to this Protocol, in particular: (a) to keep under review the implementation of this Protocol; (b) to consider the efficacy of the measures adopted, having regard in particular to the area to which the Protocol applies, and to examine the need for other measures, in particular in the form of annexes, or for envisaging, if necessary, an alteration to that area, in conformity with the provisions of Article 16 of the Convention; (c) to adopt, review and amend as required any Annex to this Protocol; (d) to monitor the establishment and development of the network of protected areas provided by Article 12, and to adopt guidelines to facilitate the establishment and development of that system and to increase cooperation among the Parties; (e) to consider the recommendations made by the meetings of the persons responsible for the protected areas, as provided by Article 14 (2); (f) to consider reports transmitted by the Parties to the Organization under Article 20 of the Convention and any other information which the Parties may transmit to the Organization or to the meeting of the Parties. Article 18 1. The provisions of the Convention relating to any protocol shall apply with respect to this Protocol. 2. The rules of procedure and the financial rules adopted pursuant to Article 18 (2) of the Convention shall apply with respect to this Protocol, unless the Parties to this Protocol agree otherwise. 3. This Protocol shall be open for signature, at Geneva on 3 and 4 April 1982, and at Madrid from 5 April 1982 to 2 April 1983 by any Contracting Party to the Convention and any State invited to the Conference of plenipotentiaries on the Protocol concerning Mediterranean specially protected areas, held at Geneva on 2 and 3 April 1982. It shall also be open for signature from 5 April 1982 to 2 April 1983 by any regional economic grouping of which at least one member is a coastal State of the Mediterranean Sea area and which exercises competence in fields covered by this Protocol. 4. This Protocol shall be subject to ratification, acceptance or approval. Instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Government of Spain, which will assume the functions of depositary. 5. As from 3 April 1983, this Protocol shall be open for accession by the Contracting Parties to the Convention and by any State or grouping referred to in paragraph 3. 6. This Protocol shall enter into force on the 30th day following the deposit of at least six instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval of, or accession to, the Protocol. In witness whereof, the undersigned, being duly authorized, have signed this Protocol. Done at Geneva on this third day of April one thousand nine hundred and eighty two in a single copy in