NoC201/48 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities26.7.93
OpinionontheproposalforaCouncilDecisionconcerningtheconclusionofacooperation
agreementfortheprotectionofthecoastsandwatersoftheNorth-EastAtlanticagainst
pollution(*)
(93/C201/16
On12February1993theCouncildecidedtoconsulttheEconomicandSocialCommittee,
underArticle130SoftheTreatyestablishingtheEuropeanEconomicCommunity,onthe
abovementioned proposal.
TheSectionforProtectionoftheEnvironment,PublicHealthandConsumerAffairs,which
wasresponsibleforpreparingtheCommitteesworkonthesubject,adopteditsOpinionon
4May1993.TheRapporteurwasMrMargalefMasia.
Atits306thPlenarySession(meetingof26May1993),theEconomicandSocialCommittee
adoptedthefollowingOpinionby93votestoseven,withsixabstentions.
1.Introduction 2.Generalcomments
2.1.TheCommitteeapprovestheproposedCouncil
Decision.1.1.Oneofthemainconsequencesoftheentryinto
forceoftheSingleActhasbeenthattheCommunity
hasassumedresponsibilitiesinnewareas.Whileinthe
earlyyearsitwasconcernedalmostexclusivelywith
commercial,agricultural,transportandsomesocial
issues,overtimeotherissueshavebeenadded,suchas
economicandsocialcohesion,newtechnologiesand,
aftermucheffort,theenvironment .Accidentsinvolving
oiltankershighlighttheneedforadequatemeasuresto
protectthemarineenvironment .2.2.TheLisbonConventionisregardedpositively.
ItsArticlesexaminethevariousmeasuresrequired
todaytotackletheproblemofmarinepollutionat
internationallevel(prevention,planning,coordination,
response,etc.).
1.2.Itisofthegreatestimportanceinthiscontext
tostipulatethatvesselscarryingdangerousgoodsor
pollutantsuseparticularroutesdesignatedtocomply
withthehighest,technicallyfeasiblesafetystandards.
2.3.Inthisrespectpoint2oftheexplanatorymemor­
andumisespeciallyclearwhereitreferstotheCouncil
Resolutionof26June1978settingupanactionpro­
grammeonthecontrolandreductionofpollutioncau­
sedbyhydrocarbonsdischargedatsea,inlinewithEC
environmental objectivesaslaiddowninArticle130s
oftheEECTreaty.1.3.Toachievethis,theCommitteeurgestheMem­
berStatestocarryoutproperconsultations ,inaccord­
ancewithCommunityproceduresandwiththeCom­
mission'sassistance,withaviewtosubmittingthe
necessaryproposalstotheInternationalMaritime
Organization ,includingwhateveramendmentstothe
internationallegalinstruments [InternationalConven­
tionfortheSafetyofLifeatSea(Solas),International
ConventionforthePreventionofPollutionfromShips
(Marpol)]mayberequired. 2.4.InternationalConventionsareasuitableinstru­
mentforencouraginginternationalcooperation .Inthe
presentcaseArticle10ofthe1990InternationalCon­
ventiononoilpollutionpreparednessandresponse
(OPPR-90)explicitlyurgesregionalcooperationasan
effectiveandpracticalwayforcountriesinthesame
geographicalregiontotacklemarinepollution,particu­
larlyinthecaseofaccidents.1.4.Themoregeneraltopicofmaritimesafetywould
bebetterdealtwithintheOpinioncurrentlybeing
drawnuponacommonpolicyonsafeseas(2).
(1)OJNoC56,26.2.1993,p.13.
(2)COM(93)66final.2.5.TheLisbonAgreementroundsofftheinter­
nationalmeasurestakenbytheCommunitytocombat

26.7.93 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities NoC201/49
accidentalmarinepollution:theBalticSea,theNorth
SeaandtheMediterraneanarealreadycoveredbythe
correspondinginstruments (HelsinkiConvention,Bonn
AgreementandBarcelonaConventionrespectively),
leavingonlytheNorth-EastAtlanticwhichwillbe
adequatelycoveredbytheLisbonAgreement.
2.6.TheinclusionofMoroccoanditswaterswill
makeforadditionalmaritimesafetyandprotectionin
theeventofanaccidentontheCommunity'ssouthern
frontier.
2.7.TheinclusionoftheAtlanticarchipelagoesis
alsoviewedpositively.2.8.ThefinancialprovisionsoftheAgreementare
correctandtheexpenditurefairlydivided.
2.9.TheCommitteewould,however,recommend
thattheCommunity'svoluntarycontributionbeona
threeratherthanoneyearbasissoastoensurethatthe
InternationalCentrefunctionssmoothly.
2.10.TheCommitteerecommendsrapidratification
oftheAgreementbytheCommunityandtheMember
StatessothattheCentrecanstartoperationsandthus
completetheprotectionsystemforallEuropeancoasts
andwaters.
DoneatBrussels,26May1993.
TheChairman
oftheEconomicandSocialCommittee
SusanneTIEMANN
APPENDIX
totheOpinionoftheEconomicandSocialCommittee
Defeatedamendment
Thefollowingamendment,whichreceivedmorethat25%ofthevotes,wasexaminedandrejectedduring
thediscussion :
Deleteparagraphs1.2,1.3and1.4andreplacewiththefollowingtext:
1.2.TheESCexpressesitsconcernregardingthesafetransportationofhazardousandnoxioussubstances
intheCommunity .InthatrespectitrecallsitsrelevantOpiniononthedraftdirectiveontheminimum
requirementsforvesselsenteringorleavingCommunityportscarryingpackagesofdangerousorpolluting
goods(October1989,OJNoC329/20),andwillre-examinetheissueshortlyinthecontextofitsforthcoming
Opiniononthe«Communication onacommonpolicyonSafeSeas»'.
Reason
Self-explanatory .
Voting
For:23,against:61,abstentions :2.