New Strides in Environmental Protection
Members of the European Parliament’s (MEP’s) transport and tourism committee recently announced an innovation in regulation. Ships plying the waters of the European Union could face hefty penalties not only for causing oil spills but also for discharging waste and sewage. This resolution was made public yesterday following a committee vote for an upgrade in EU policies towards pollution prevention.
Reworking an Old Directive
This legislative decision is designed to map international standards against illegal discharges from ships onto EU law. These standards have been established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and their inclusion in EU law would ensure tighter enforcement. The MEPs threw their support behind a proposal to add sewage, scrubber residues, and garbage to the list of discharges that current EU rules restrict, along with oil and harmful liquid substances.
Taking Responsibility for Our Seas
Further, the MEPs asserted that ship owners should be held accountable for the environmental damage their ships cause. This principle holds even if the crew or master responsible for the illegal discharge can’t be identified or can’t afford the penalty fee. Moreover, the MEPs called on EU governments to shun setting maximum or minimum penalties for such offenses, cautioning against the undermining of penalty effectiveness and proportionality.
Better Surveillance and More Accountability
The present EU law has resulted in the creation of the CleanSeaNet – an alert system that detects oil spills and vessels, operated via satellites. However, with the system lacking sufficient accountability for pollution incidents, the committee MEPs urged an increase in data sharing between the commission and member states. They also advocated for 50% of CleanSeaNet alerts to be promptly verified on the spot, to faster detect and prevent illegal discharges from spreading.
Transport committee MEPs have voiced their frustrations over member states’ insufficient application of current EU rules and have called for more decisive action in safeguarding European seas from harmful waste illegally disposed of by ships.
EP Rapporteur Marian-Jean Marinescu echoed this sentiment when he noted, “Penalties for illegal discharges need to be so significant that they serve as a truly strong deterrent.”
With the draft mandate approved by a 36 to 1 vote, the committee also unanimously agreed to initiate discussions with member states on the final form of the law, following parliamentary approval next week. This move signposts a new era in a mutually beneficial relationship between maritime activities and environmental conservation in the European Union.
