25. CallsontheCommissiontoassesstheachievementsandlimitationsoftheNewApproachand
presentproposalsforitsrevision;
26. CallsontheCommissionandontheMemberStatestomakeavailablesufficientresourcestoimple-
mentIPP;
27. Recommendsthattheroleofretailersindeliveringproductinformationbefurtherinvestigated,and
thatthecriticalroleofmarketingandindeedofthefinanceandinsurancesectorsshouldberecognised;
28. Considersthatpublicaccesstoenvironmentalinformationonproductsisafundamentalprerequi-
siteforandincentivetomanufacturerstoreducethelife-cycleimpactssoftheirproducts;
29. CallsontheCommissiontotakeintoconsiderationon-goingR&Dprogrammesoneco-designand
touseresourceswithintheSixthFrameworkProgrammeproactivelytostimulatethenecessarytrans-dis-ciplinaryresearchneededforIPP,includingthedevelopmentofappropriatebusinessmodels;takestheviewthatspecialemphasisshouldbegiventothedevelopmentofstandardsforre-usablematerialsandseparationtechniquesformulti-layermaterials;
30. CallsontheCommissiontoestablishasteeringcommitteeforIPPaswellasworkinggroupsin
specificareas,suchassystemsdesign,economictools,productenvironmentallifecycledataandconsump-tionpolicy;isoftheopinionthatparalleltothis,clearstakeholderproceduresandadetailedworkplanandtimetableforactions,initiativesandimplementationforeseenbytheCommissionshouldbeestablished;believes,moreover,thatastudyshouldbeinitiatedtoclarifyhowandinwhatwaythevarioustoolsandinstrumentsconsideredtopromoteIPPinteract,strengthenandsupporteachother;takestheviewthatimportantaspectstobetakenintoconsiderationwouldbemeasuresthatenableandmotivateindividualsaswellascompaniestotakeaccountoflifecycleconcernsintheirdecisions,measuresthatstimulateandrewardleadersandmeasuresthatforcelaggardstoimprove,measuresthataddressimmediatechallengesaswellaslong-termobjectives;
31. CallsontheCommissiontotakeinitiativestopromotethetransferofIPPknowledge(LCA,eco-
design,etc.)todevelopingcountries;
32. InstructsitsPresidenttoforwardthisresolutiontotheCouncilandCommission.
P5_TA(2004)0350
Safetyatsea
EuropeanParliamentresolutiononimprovingsafetyatsea(2003/2235(INI))
TheEuropeanParliament ,
/dash havingregardtoArticle31oftheCharterofFundamentalRightsoftheEuropeanUnion,whichstates:
‘Everyworkerhastherighttoworkingconditionswhichrespecthisorherhealth,safetyanddignity’,
/dash havingregardtoitsdecisionof6November2003tosetupatemporarycommitteeonimproving
safetyatsea(1),
/dash havingregardtoitsresolutionsof21November2002onthePrestigeoiltankerdisasteroffthecoast
ofGalicia(2),19December2002onsafetyatseaandmeasurestoalleviatetheeffectsofthePrestige
disaster(3)and23September2003onimprovingsafetyatseainresponsetothePrestigeaccident(4)
anditspreviousresolutionsonsafetyatsea,
(1) P5_TA(2003)0483.
(2) OJC25E,29.1.2004,p.415.
(3) OJC31E,5.2.2004,p.258.
(4) P5_TA(2003)0400.C104E/730 EN30.4.2004 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Wednesday21April2004
/dash havingregardtothepublichearingsoftheTemporaryCommitteeonimprovingsafetyatseaheldon
1-2December2003and22Januaryand18February2004,
/dash havingregardtothewrittensubmissionsofthespeakersinvitedtoattendthepublichearings,
/dash havingregardtoitsresolutionof12February2004onthefateoftheGreekandFilipinomembersof
thecrewoftheTasmanSpiritinKarachi,Pakistan(1),
/dash havingregardtotheexchangeofviewswhichtookplacebetweenadelegationfromtheTemporary
CommitteeonimprovingsafetyatseaandthemasterofthePrestigeon5February2004inBarce-lona,
/dash havingregardtothedecisionsadoptedbytheIMOatthe23rdsessionofitsAssemblyinNovember-
December2003,
/dash havingregardtoRule150(2)ofitsRulesofProcedure,
/dash havingregardtothereportoftheTemporaryCommitteeonimprovingsafetyatsea(A5-0257/2004),
A. whereasvariousincidentsinEuropeanwatershavecausedpollutionsincetheErikaandPrestigedis-
asters,suchasthatinvolvingtheAndinet,whichlostleakydrumscontainingtoxicsubstancesoffthecoastoftheNetherlands,
B. whereasresearchshowsthat,morethantenyearsaftertheExxonValdezoildisaster,theimpacton
theenvironmentandtheecosystemisstillvisibleandthatshort-termsolutionssuchasclean-upoperationscaninthelongtermmakemattersevenworse,althoughaccountmustbetakenoftheparticularcharacteristicsoftheoilcarriedbytheExxonValdezandthefuel-oilcarriedbythePrestige,aswellasthevastdifferences,intermsofcoastline,climateandmovementofwaters,betweenAlaskaandGalicia,
C. whereasmajoraccidentsarenottheonlyproblem:worldwidemuchofthepollutionwithhydrocar-
bonscaused by ships is due to deliberate discharges, such as degassing; whereas, therefore, it isnecessarytocombattheseillegaldischargesbyintroducingasystemofappropriatepenalties,
D. whereassomemaritimetransportoperatorshavemadeeffortstomodernisetheirfleetsandtotrain
theseafarerstheyemploybutfurtherinitiatives,includingCommunityinitiatives,arestillneeded,
E. whereas the Commission has promised to put forward in 2004 a new package of measures to
improvesafetyatsea,comprisingproposalsconcerningthelivingandworkingconditionsofseafarers;portstateandflagstatecontrol;maritimetransportmanagementandinformation;passengerliabilityandinvestigationsintomaritimeaccidents,
F. whereasthemasterofthePrestige,afterhavingbeendetainedfor83daysandhavingpaidsecurityof
USD3,2million,isstillrequiredtoreportdailytotheSpanishpolice,
G. whereassuchtreatmenthassubsequentlybeenrepeatedintheongoingcaseoftheTasmanSpirit,
H. havingregardtotherejectionbythecourtinCorcubiónoftheEuropeanParliament’srequesttohear
themasterduringapublichearinginBrussels,
I. whereas,nearlyayearandahalfafterthedisaster,stillnodateshavebeensetfortheopeningofthe
proceedingsagainstthemaster,
J. havingregardtothestatementsbythemasterofthePrestigetoParliamentconcerning:thepoor
accessibilityoftheemergencytowinginstallationbecauseoftheprevailingconditions,particularly
theweather,thedamagetotheengineasaresultofwhichitcouldnotimmediatelybestarted,therequestsbyboththemasterandtherescuerstotakethevesseltoaplaceofrefuge,
(1) P5_TA(2004)0102.30.4.2004EN C104E/731 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Wednesday21April2004
K. whereastheexactquantitiesareunclearbutbeforethedisastertherewas77000tonsofheavyoilon
boardthePrestige,itisestimatedthat14000tonsnowremainthere,some43000tons,accordingtothe Spanish authorities’ statistics, having been washed up and/or cleaned up; whereas thereforeapproximately20000tonsareunaccountedfor,whichconsequentlycouldstillbeathreattotheenvironmentandthecoast,
L. whereasthemasterofthePrestigeestimatedthat2000to3000tonsoffuelwaslostimmediately
aftertheinitialdamagetothePrestige,asopposedtotheSpanishauthoritieswhoestimatedthatatthattimeapproximately10000tonswaslost,
M. whereastheIMO’sbudgetisinthehandsofthecountrieswithopenregisters(44%ofalltheworld’s
vesselsareregisteredintheBahamas,Bermuda,Cyprus,LiberiaandPanama,whilethefinancialcon-troloverthat44%,asfarastankersareconcerned,lieswithGreece/dashca.20%,Japan/dashca.12%,andNorway/dashca.11%)andthatitisthereforenecessarytoreformthestructureoftheIMOinaccord-ancewiththerequirementsofcombatingmarinepollutionandensuringsafetyatsea,
N. whereastheeffectsofthesecatastrophesextendbeyondtheparametersofasingleMemberState,
havinganimpactupontheCommunityasawhole,forwhichreasonitisincumbentontheEUtoassumeresponsibilityandtodevelopacomprehensiveEuropeanmaritimepolicy,
ThePrestigedisasterandthewreck
1. DeploresthevariousshippingaccidentswhichhaveoccurredsincethesinkingofthePrestige,par-
ticularlythedisasterinvolvingthefreighterRocknesoffthecoastofNorway,whichcaused18deathsinJanuary2004;callsontheauthoritiestoinvestigatethecausesandthecircumstances,particularlythepossibleroleplayedinthedisasterbythelackofcommunicationskillsandthefactthatthisvesselwasdouble-hulled;
2. Stressesthatfarmoreattentionoughttobedevotedtothemaintenanceandconditionofvessels,asa
poorly maintained double-hulled tanker represents a greater potential hazard than a well maintainedsingle-hulledtanker;
3. Expressesitsconcernaboutthestatementmadebythegovernmentcommissioneronbehalfofthe
SpanishauthoritiesthatifadisasteridenticaltothePrestigedisasterweretorecur,adecisionwouldagainbetakentotowthevesselawayfromthecoastandnottotransferittoasafehaven;
4. Callsonthecompetentauthoritiesimmediatelytoresolvetheseriousproblemposedbythe14000
tonnesofoilstillpresentinthewreck,the20000tonnesintheseaandthethousandsoftonnesofwasteinlandfills,andtoputforwardadetailedtimetablefortheextractionandtreatmentofthiswaste;urgesthattheexpertisegainedintheprocessbedisseminatedandusedintacklinganyfutureaccidents;
5. CallsontheCommissiontoobtaininformationonandsupervisethetreatmentandprocessingofthe
wastefromthePrestigeinordertopreventanddetectpossibleinfringementsofEUwastelaw;
6. Noteswithconcernthat,nearlyayearandahalfafterthePrestigedisaster,alltheinvestigationsinto
thecausesandcircumstancesofthedisasterhavestillnotbeencompletedorthefindingspublished;notesthat the findings of the investigation by the Prestige’s flag state (the Bahamas), for example, are stillawaited;urgesthatagreementsbereachedundertheauspicesoftheIMOonthespeedyandindependentinvestigationofshippingdisastersandthattheIMOincludethisrequirementinitsauditschemeformari-timeauthorities;
7. CallsontheSpanishjudicialauthorities,onthebasisoftotalrespectforthefullindependenceof
theirdecision-makingandofArticle73oftheMontegoBayConvention,toallowthemasterofthePres-tigetoreturntohiscountrypendinghistrial,andtorelaxtherequirementforhimtoreportdaily,andassoonaspossibletospecifythedateonwhichthelegalproceedingsagainstthemasteraretobeginandthescheduleforthoseproceedings;C104E/732 EN30.4.2004 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Wednesday21April2004
ImprovingmaritimesafetyatEuropeanlevel
8. Stressesthat,inresponsetotheErikaandPrestigedisasters,importantlegislativemeasureshavebeen
takentomakeshippingsaferinEuropeanwatersandthatprioritymustthereforebegiventotherapidandcompleteintroductionandstrictenforcementoftheEuropeanrulesbytheMemberStates;
9. CallsforacomprehensiveandcohesiveEuropeanmaritimepolicy,whichwouldhaveasitsobjective
thecreationofaEuropeanmaritimesafetyarea;considersthatthispolicyshouldbebasedonthefollow-ingmeasures:
/dash thebanningofsubstandardvessels;
/dash thedrawing-upofjointprotocolsonprevention,actionandreparationintheeventofdisasters;/dash theintroductionofasystemofliabilitycoveringtheentiremaritimetransportchainandthepublic
authoritiesresponsibleforsafetyatsea;
/dash theimprovementoflivingandworkingconditionsandtrainingforseafarers;
eagerly awaitsthenewCommissionproposalsscheduledfor2004andconsidersthattheseproposals
shouldformpartofalegislativepackageentitled‘Prestige’;
10. Considersthat,asitisalsoveryimportanttohaveeffectiveemergencyplanningonboardvessels,
theCommissionshouldproposemeasurestoensurethatalltankersandvesselscarrying asignificantquantityofoilasfuelshouldberequiredtomaintainacomprehensivevesselemergencyresponseplanaspartofanEU-wideindustry-basedEmergencyResponseSystem;
11. DeploreslikewisethefactthatsomeMemberStateshavenotfullyimplementedDirective2002/59/
EC(
1)establishingaCommunityvesseltrafficmonitoringandinformationsystemandparticularlyArti-
cle20thereof,whichconcernsthedrawing-upofplanstoprovideplacesofrefugeforshipsindistress,
12. CallsoneachcoastalMemberStatetoestablishacleardecision-makingandcommandstructurefor
dealingwithmaritimeemergenciesandanindependentauthorityhavingthepowersandexpertisetotakethenecessarydecisionswhicharetobebindingonallpartiesconcerned,inparticularasregardstheselectionandmandatoryassignmentofanemergencymooringorport;
13. Emphasisestheimportanceoftransnationalcooperationindealingwithmajormaritimeaccidents,
basedonstandingoperationalnetworksandclear rulesandprocedures which are testedregularly bymeansofexercises;
14. Stressesthat,whenconsideringmeasurestoimprove safetyatsea, sufficientattentionmustbe
devotedtoparticularfeaturesoftheEU’svariousseaareas,whichdiffer,interalia,onaccountofclimaticfactors:forexample,specialsafetyrequirementsapplyintheBalticduringthewinter;
15. CallsfortheestablishmentofaEuropeancoastguardserviceequippedwiththenecessarypowers
andinstrumentstoensure:
/dash maritimesafetyandtheprotectionofthemarineenvironment(includingfisheriessurveillance)and
protectionagainstterrorism,piracyandmaritimecrime;
/dash strictmonitoringofadherencetocertainshippingroutesandthebringingofprosecutionsinrespect
oftheillegalentryofvessels;
/dash theswiftestpossiblecoordinationofthenecessarymeasuresintheeventofanaccidentatsea
incompliancewiththedecisionsoftheindependentnationalauthoritiestobesetupinaccordancewith
paragraph12ofthisresolution;
(1) OJL208,5.8.2002,p.10.30.4.2004EN C104E/733 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Wednesday21April2004
16. WelcomestheinitiativeoftheCommissiontoorganiseaseriesofvisitstoMemberStatestoverify
theexistenceandcontentsofplansfordealingwithplacesofrefuge;callsontheCommissiontocompleteassoonaspossibleitsevaluationoftheplanssubmittedanditsvisitstoappropriatelocationsandsubmittheresultsofthisinvestigationtotheEuropeanParliamentandtheCouncil,andtomakeaclearstatementastowhichpartsoftheplansshouldbepublic;
17. IsconcernedabouttheincreasingtranshipmentofoilbetweenvesselsoffthecoastsofEurope;
thereforecallsontheMemberStates,whendrawingupemergencyplans,totakeaccountofthespecificrisksassociatedwiththis;
18. Observesthatthecapacityforcleaningupoilatseahasprovedinadequateincertainareasandthat
noimprovementmeasureshavebeentakensincethesinkingofthePrestige;consequentlywelcomesthefactthatEMSAisbeingassignedanoperationalremitinthisfieldandstressestheimportanceofmakingavailablethefundingneededtocarryoutthisremit;
19. ReiteratesitsrequestthattheCommissionsubmitproposalsassoonaspossibleforfinancialcom-
pensation for places ofrefuge andmake clear the extent towhich existing international conventions
alreadyprovideforcompensation;callsontheMemberStatesandtheUniontoratifytheseconventionsassoonaspossible;
20. CallsontheCommissiontoinvestigatethescopeforintroducingmandatoryinsuranceforvesselsin
Europeanwaterssothatdamagesandcostsofplacesofrefugeaswellassocialandenvironmentalcostsintheeventofanaccidentcanalsoberecoveredfromtheownersofvessels;callsforaproposalforthe
introductionofanEU-widecommonmethodfordisasterassessment,withaviewtofacilitating,asinthe
US,compensationforsocialorcollectivedamagetothenaturalheritage,includingthedeteriorationofcommerciallynon-viablemarineandlandbiodiversity;
21. Considersthattheinsurancesystemtobeestablishedmustcovernotonlythevalueofthecargo
butalsorisksofpotentialenvironmentaldamageinthelightofthenatureofthecargo;
22. CallsontheTransportCouncil,oneyearafterthepublicationoftheCommissionproposal,to
finallyadoptapositiononthedirectiveconcerningtheintroductionofpenalties(undercriminallaw)forpollutionfromships;stressesitsview thatasystemofpenaltiesiscrucial inordertocombatillegaldischarges,butthatthismustnotresultinageneralcriminalisationofseafarers,therebydamagingtheimageoftheirprofession;
23. ViewswithconcernthelimitedprogressmadebycertainnewMemberStatesinimplementing
Europeanandworldrulesonmaritimesafety;notesthatthereisparticularconcernaboutthefollowingnewMemberStates:theBalticStates,MaltaandCyprus;callsontheCommissiontocontinuetomonitorcloselytheprocessofintegrationofthe‘acquis’andcallsonthenewMemberStates,inparticularMaltaandCyprus,tocontinuetheireffortsandtostrengthentheirmaritimeadministrations;
24. WelcomestheperiodicpublicationbytheCommissionofablacklistofvesselswhicharebanned
fromenteringEuropeanwatersandports;urgestheMemberStatestoenforcestrictlytheprovisionsoftheportstatecontrolDirectiveonrefusalofaccessandtoimprove,standardiseandstepupportinspections,whileurgingtheCommissiontocarryouteffectivecontrolsandtoundertakeanauditoftheclassificationsocieties,includingtheirsubsidiariesandcompaniespart-ownedbythem,introducingpenaltiesfornon-compliancewithobligations;
25. CallsontheCommissiontopromoteadetailedstudyofallchemicalproductsandradioactive
substancescarriedbyvessels,providingspecificinformationontheirdegreeoftoxicity,chemicalcomposi-tionanddangerousness;
26. CallsontheCommissiontomakeaproposalfortracing(bymeansoftransponders)containersand
otherloadingunitscontainingdangerousgoods,sothattheycanbelocatedafterbeinglostatsea;callsontheCommissiontofurtherdeveloptheSafeSeaNetEuropeandataexchangeplatforminordertoaddnewfunctionalitiesandintegrate newtechnologicaldevelopments,suchastransponders;urgestheMemberStatestofullyusethissystemwithaviewtoclosermonitoringoftrafficandbetteridentificationofshipslikelytoposearisktosafety,securityortheenvironment;C104E/734 EN30.4.2004 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Wednesday21April2004
27. Isconcernedabouttheregistrationandlabellingofcontainersanddrumscontaininghazardous
chemicalsandsubstances,inviewofthelossofahighlytoxiccargofromtheAndinetintheNorthSea,whenitbecameapparentthatthesubstanceinquestionwasnotthesameasthatindicatedinthebillsoflading;
28. Isconcernedthatthepartnershipandcooperationagreement(PCA)recentlyconcludedbetween
RussiaandtheEuropeanCommunityprovidesinsufficientsafeguardsformaritimesafetyintheBalticregion;callsontheCommission,therefore,tocoordinatecloselywithMemberStatesandtheEuropean
ParliamentitscontinuingnegotiationswithRussia,withaviewtodevelopingcommoncriteriatodeter-
mineconditionsofaccesstotheBalticforshipscarryingdangerouscargo;considersthattheoutcomeofthesenegotiationsshouldreflectanequallevelofresponsibilityforbothsignatoriessoastoprotectthemarineenvironmentoftheBalticregion;
29. UrgestheCommission,inthepromisedproposalforadirectiveoninvestigatingshippingaccidents,
toprovideforasystemwhichwillensureoptimalexchangesoffindingsfrominvestigationsbetweenMemberStates,theCommissionandEMSAandwhichwillsafeguardtheindependenceofinvestigations,preferablybythecreationofanindependentEuropeaninvestigationunitwithinEMSA;
30. CallsontheCommissiontoexaminethepossibilityofgivingEMSAaccess,undercertainconditions
andinparticularwithoutpriornotice,tovesselsforthepurposeofperformingon-the-spotinspectionandexaminationtasksassignedtoitandtodraftaproposaltothateffect,ifappropriate;
31. Calls,inaddition,foranincreasedbudgetaryallocationforEMSA,sothatitcanhaveatitsdisposal,
assoonaspossible,afleetofanti-pollutionvesselstocomplementtheMemberStates’efforts,andcanalsoperformmoreeffectivechecksontheactivitiesoftheclassificationsocieties;
32. Stressestheimportanceofprovidingthemostup-to-datemeansofnavigation,suchas:Electronic
NavigationalCharts(ENC)andtheElectronicChartDisplayandInformationSystem(ECDIS),aswellasregularlyupdatedinformationonwaterdepths(especiallyinareaswithrestrictedwaterdepths);
Improvingmaritimesafetyworldwide
33. SupportsthecallbytheSecretary-GeneraloftheIMOfortheEUMemberStatestocontinueplay-
ingafullpartintheworkoftheIMOandwelcomestheoutcomeofthediscussionsbetweentheCom-missionerresponsiblefortransportandtheIMOSecretary-GeneralonthemarginsoftheMAREconfer-enceinJanuary2004concerningclosercooperationbetweentheirorganisations;
34. ReiteratesitsrequesttotheCounciltoapplyformembershipoftheIMOfortheUnion;
35. IsconcernedabouttheincreaseinexportsofRussianoilviatheBalticandalongtheshoresofthe
EU,astheyoftenmakeuseofthecheapestsubstandardtonnage;welcomes,accordingly,closecooperationbetweentheCommissionandtheIMO,whichmustcheckthatclassificationsocietiesarecarryingoutinspectionsproperlyandthatthecertificatesissuedarecorrect;
36. Understandsthe concernoftheSecretary-Generalofthe IMOregarding unilateral andregional
actionbycountriesoutsidetheframeworkoftheIMO,considers,however,thatEUaction,suchas,forinstance,thebanningofflagsofconveniencefromEuropeanterritorialwaters,maysometimesbenecess-
aryintheinterestsofsafety;considers,moreover,thatEUmeasurescanactasacatalystwithintheIMO,
asinthecase,forexample,oftheacceleratedphasing-outofsingle-hulledtankers;
37. ConsidersthatthedesignationofParticularlySensitiveSeaAreas(PSSA)undertheauspicesofthe
IMOshouldbeaccompaniedbyclearandenforceablerules,suchasmorestringentcompulsoryreporting,identificationofalloperatorsandreroutingofhigh-riskvessels,differentiatedaccordingtocargo;deplorestheactiontakenbysomeIMOmemberstatestopostponeanynewdesignationofPSSAareas;30.4.2004EN C104E/735 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Wednesday21April2004
38. RegretsthatupuntilnowonlythreeIMOmemberstateshaveratifiedtheInternationalConvention
onCivilLiabilityforBunkerOilPollutionDamage2001,ofwhichonlyoneisaMemberStateoftheEU,asanybunkeroilspillisathreattothemarineenvironmentanditsbiodiversity,andthatwithoutfullratificationtherewillbenointernationalframeworkcoveringpollutiondamageresultingfromabunkeroilspill;tothatend,urgesEUMemberStatestoratifytheConventionandtheCommissiontopromotesuchratification;
39. Callsforthe establishmentofspecial zoneswithin environmentallysensitiveandnavigationally
difficultareasoftheBalticSea,particularlytheKadetTrench,theSkagerrak/Kattegat,theGreatBeltandtheSound,whichocean-goingvessels,inparticularoiltankers,maynolongernegotiatewithoutapilot,andcallsontheCommissionandtheMemberStatestoinitiatethenecessarymeasuresinthecompetentinternationalbodies,inparticulartheIMO;
40. WelcomestherecommendationonharmonisedrulesconcerningtransportintheBalticSeaarea
duringthewinter,asadoptedbytheHelsinkiCommissionfortheProtectionoftheMarineEnvironmentoftheBalticSeaArea(HELCOM);
41. Rejects,ontheotherhand,thecategoricalbanningofhigh-riskvesselsfromthe200-milezone,as
thismeasureislegallycontentious,impedesrapidandeffectiveassistancetovesselsindistressandtheir
crews,andcausesvesselstomakedetours,therebydisplacingorevenaggravatingtheproblem;
42. Reiteratestheneedtoreviseinternationalmaritimelawsoastoconfergreaterpowersoncoastal
statestoreinforcemaritimesafetyintheirexclusiveeconomiczonesandtoimprovetheprotectionofthemarineenvironment;
43. Stressesthat,intheinterestsofsafetyatsea,itisessentialthatseafarersshouldreceiveawage
whichassignsvaluetotheirwork,andthatanendbeputtotheoverexploitationwhichexistsonmanyships;callsontheCommissiontoworkforharmonisationof,andahigherstatusfor,thisoccupationonaEuropeanscalebymeansoflegislationandtoacttothisendwithintheIMO;
44. Stressesthatupto80%ofaccidentsatseaareduetohumanerror,andthatthepercentageeven
higherinthecaseofcollisionsandgroundings;considersthatthehumanelementismulti-faceted;there-forecallsontheCommissiontoaddressthehumanelementissueswhenadoptinganew‘Prestige’package,whichithasannouncedfor2004,andurgestheintroductionofcompulsoryrefreshercoursesandcoursesonrescueoperationsunderthetermsoftheSTCWConvention;
45. CallsontheCommissionandtheMemberStatestopresswithintheIMOformorestringentinter-
nationalrulesasregardssafetytrainingforcaptains,officersandcrews,withparticularreferencetocom-pulsoryfurthertrainingandrefreshercoursesinvesselsafety,accidentmanagement,fireprotectionandemergencymeasuressuchastowing,emergencymooringsorcombatingharmfulsubstances;
46. Believesthereshouldbeaninternationalprogrammeforcooperationbringingtogetherallofthe
world’svesselinspectionsystems(MOUs),includingacentralisedandeasilyaccessibledatabasethatcanbeconsultedrapidly,withaviewtoensuringthatthemovementofvesselsbetweenzonesdoesnotrenderitimpossibletotrackvesselsorresultinthedisappearanceofanyrecordofoffences;
47. WelcomesinthiscontexttheinspectionswhichEMSAwillperformregardingtheapplicationofthe
STCWConventioninthirdcountries;stressesthatpenaltiesareneededincasesofflagrantviolationofthe
Convention,andcallsontheCommissioninparticulartotakestrongactionagainstcountrieswhichissuecertificatesofcompetencyformerchantshippingofficersonfalseorfraudulentgrounds;
48. Callsformeasurestoraisetheprestigeofmaritimeoccupationsandmakethemmoreattractiveto
youngpeopleingeneralandyoungEuropeansinparticular;
49. Expressesitsconcernabouttheproliferationofcounterfeitandfraudulentcertificates;requeststhe
Commissiontoestablishincentivesforcrewmemberstoinformauthoritieswherethesecriminalactivitiesareprevalentandnocorrectiveactionistakenbytheownersorflagstate;C104E/736 EN30.4.2004 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Wednesday21April2004
50. WelcomesthedecisionsadoptedbytheIMOinDecember2003concerningguidelinesforportsof
refugeandtheintroductionofavoluntaryauditsystemforIMOmemberstates;urges,however,thatthissystembemadecompulsorywithoutdelayandthatitsresultsbepublished;
51. Stressestheneedforradicalchangesatthelevelofstructureandresponsibilitiestothecomplex
nexusofbusinesses(vesselandshipowners,freightcontractors,oilcompanies,classificationsocieties,insurers,etc)thatcontrolsinternationalmaritimetraffic,aswellasitsrelationswithflag-of-conveniencestates;insiststhatthisnexusisanobstacletotheefficientinspectionoftheconditionofvessels,theintroductionofthenecessarysafetymeasures,vocationaltraining,actiontosecureadequateworkingandlivingconditionsandwagesforcrews,andcompliancewithfiscalobligations;callsontheCommissiontomakeafullanalysisofthiscrucialproblemandtosubmitareporttoParliamentandtheCouncil;thisreportshould,inparticular,dealwiththerelationsbetweenEUbusinessesandflag-of-conveniencestates;
52. Isawareofthedifficultyfacedbycertainthirdstatesinimplementinginternationalrulesonsafety
atsea;calls,therefore,ontheCouncilandCommissiontoincorporateintheCommunity’sdevelopmentpolicyprogrammestobolstermaritimeadministrations;
53. Callsforareviewoftheinternationallegislationonmaritimetransportwithaviewtoimproving
transparencyasregardsoperationalstructuresandidentificationoftheoperators,typeofgoodscarriedandthesafetymeasuresapplyingineachcase;reiteratestheneedformeasurestoencouragevesselstoflyCommunityflagsratherthanflagsofconvenienceofcountrieswhichdonotmeetthevesselinspectionandsafetystandards;
54. CallsontheInternationalLabourOrganisationandtheIMOjointlytoadoptmandatorycriteriafor
wages,minimumlivingandworkingconditionsonboardvesselsandworkinghoursandrestperiods,aswellasforaccesstovocationaltraining;
55. Expressesitsconcernatthefactthatfuelremainsintheenvironmentforalongtime,whichisa
problemcurrentlyaffectingatleast300pointsontheGaliciancoast,andothercoastsintheBayofBiscay,includingmanyNatura2000sites;callsfortheimmediateadoptionoftheNatura2000sitesproposedintheregionandtheadoptionofenvironmentalrecoveryplansforthosesites;
Socio-economic,environmentalandfisheriesaspects
56. Notesthattherapidopening-upoffishinggroundsintheaffectedareasafterthePrestigedisaster
didindeedintheshorttermeasethesituationofthefishingindustryconcerned;
57. Stressesthat,overoneyearafterthePrestigedisasterandowingtothereductioninextractive
activitybecauseofthepreventiveclosureoffishingareas,informationfromsomeofthelocalfishermen’sassociationssuggeststhattherehasbeenaconsiderableshortfallvis-à-visusualcatchlevelsinrespectofcertainfishstocksinthearea;
58. StressesthatunderthenewCommunityfinancialperspective(2007-2013)provisionmustbemade
forspecificfinancialinstrumentsforthefisheriessectorofanaturesuitedtotheneedsofcoastalcom-munitiesaffectedbymaritimedisasters;
59. StressesthatexperienceoftheExxonValdezdisasterdemonstratestheneedforlong-termscientific
researchintotheenvironmentalimpactofthePrestigedisaster;considersthatthisresearchshouldexam-ine,interalia,theknock-oneffectsofpollutioninthefoodchainandtheimpactofthepollutiononbiodiversity;urgesthatagreementsbereachedonthejointfinancingofsuchresearchbytheregionsandMemberStatesconcernedandbytheEU;
60. Hopesthatsuchlong-termresearchandexchangesofresearchfindingswillmakeitpossibleto
assessmorerealisticallytheimmediateanddelayeddamageandthusarriveatamoreconsideredapproachtofutureenvironmentaldisasters;30.4.2004EN C104E/737 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Wednesday21April2004
61. ConsidersthattheeffectiveroleplayedbyfishingfleetsincombatingpollutionfromthePrestige
andinperfecting fuelrecovery trawlsshouldencourage MemberStatestodeveloppreventively, onapermanentbasis,withtheaidofCommunityfunding,thisflexibleapproachtocleaninguppollution,whichmakesitpossibletoactbeforepollutionreachesthecoast;
62. ConsidersthattheCommissionshouldensurethattheresponsetowildlifeduringanoilspillis
integratedintotheoveralloilspillresponseandplanningmechanisms,insuchawaythatthisresponseaccordswithbestpractice;considers,furthermore,thattheCommissionshouldprioritisethedevelopmentofadequatemeasurestorestoredamagedecosystemsfollowinganoilspillandensuretherecoveryofpopulationsofaffectedspecies;
*
**
63. InstructsitsPresidenttoforwardthisresolutiontotheCouncilandtheCommission.C104E/738 EN30.4.2004 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Wednesday21April2004