EU crack down on ship pollution

The European Parliament has backed new laws to crack down on illegal ship source pollution, plans designed to stamp out environmental disasters like the Prestige oil spill.

MEPs in Strasbourg voted in favour of the tough new rules which for the first time provide criminal sanctions for deliberately polluting EU waters.

“I am very happy with the overwhelming majority I received from MEPs for the agreement reached between council, commission and the Parliament,” said parliament’s rapporteur Corien Wortmann-Kool.

“After long discussions and negotiation with the council, now reckless or serious negligence can be prosecuted.”

The European Commission proposals were prompted by the Prestige oil spill in 2002 on the Spanish and French coast, killing thousands of birds and damaging hundreds of kilometres of coastline in France and Spain.

The plans had been blocked at EU member states level over disagreement over whether the law should provide criminal sanctions.

Countries with large shipping industries like Malta, Greece and Cyprus opposed the law at EU councils of ministers arguing that the proposals went too far.

After negotiations with national governments last week, a majority of member states agreed that ship-source discharges of polluting substances would be regarded as criminal offences if committed with intent, recklessly or by gross negligence.

But some MEPs remain unconvinced. Speaking during the parliamentary debate in Strasbourg, Simon Busuttil MEP argued the proposals when beyond international conventions and would put EU ships at a commercial disadvantage.

"We all agree on the need to regulate ship source pollution. But in doing so, we should adopt a practical approach that can help us reach our goals in an effective, yet pragmatic manner,” he said.

Under the proposals agreed on Wednesday, Brussels will also carry out a feasibility study on establishing a European Coastguard service.

In the short term the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) will assist member states in tracing illegal discharges by providing satellite monitoring and surveillance.

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