WRITTEN QUESTION E-0330/02

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 February 2002)

Subject: Pollution of the Aegean by Turkish ship-breaker

According to a report in the authoritative English-language newspaper New Europe (edition of 20-26 January 2002), 17 members of Greenpeace were arrested in mid-January by the Turkish police whilst protesting against the pollution created by a ship-breaking yard in Izmir. Greenpeace claims that hazardous toxic substances are released during the process of ship-breaking, polluting the waters of the Aegean and endangering the health of the local Turkish population and numerous Community nationals, i.e. the inhabitants of the Greek islands in the vicinity.

Is the Commission aware of the above incident? What action will the Commission take to safeguard the health of the Greek inhabitants of the Aegean islands and the Turkish coastal population? What is its view of the Turkish Government's actions in arresting environmentalists belonging to the biggest environmental organisation in the world who were protesting against the pollution of the waters of the Greek archipelago? What are the official explanations given by the Turkish officials with whom the Commission has frequent contact for this undemocratic act by the security forces of their country?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(5 April 2002)

The Commission was informed about the incident in the Aegean Sea.

For the Aegean Sea as for elsewhere, the Commission will look into the problem of export by Member States of ships for scrap containing hazardous substances. This is the main concern. At least 50 % of the ships being scrapped in Turkey come from Community operators. The ship industry should remove hazardous substances from ships prior to their export.

The legal situation inside the Community as regards the export of ships for scrap containing hazardous substances is as follows: Export of waste out of the Community is governed by Council Regulation (EEC) No 259/93/EEC of 1 February 1993 on the supervision and control of shipments of waste within, into and out of the Community(1), hereafter the Shipment Regulation, as amended. The Shipment Regulation transposes inter alia the provisions of the Basel Convention, including its ban on export of hazardous waste from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to non-OECD countries. The Basel export-ban is not legally binding and in force internationally yet, but is however implemented and legally binding for the Member States.

It is the opinion of the Commission that ships destined for dismantling are to be considered waste and also a hazardous waste if not emptied of cargo and other hazardous materials. In accordance with the Basel Convention export ban, Community law bans the export out of the Community of ships destined for disposal and of ships destined for recovery to non-OECD countries if they are hazardous. Possible exports of ships destined for dismantling not falling under any ban (destined for recovery and non-hazardous) are still subject to control requirements and Community rules generally require that the recovery treatment in the country of destination must be environmentally sound.

The situation as regards Turkey is the following:Turkey became a party of the Basel Convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal on 20 December 1994. Through the Turkish Regulation to control hazardous wastes (27.08.1995 No 22387) based on this Convention, Turkey banned the import of all kinds of hazardous waste in 1995. Turkey has adequate national legislation related to ship breaking to protect the environment and to ensure occupational health and safety. However, in practice, enforcement of the Turkish legislation needs to be strengthened. This clarifies why ships containing hazardous substances are still scrapped in Turkey.

The Commission is preparing a Maríne Strategy, which will cover all the seas surrounding the Union, including the Aegean See. This strategy will guide the Member States in the protection of the marine environment. It is their responsibility, for example through strict enforcement of the Shipment Regulation. The environmental protection of the Aegean Sea is also part of a bilateral agreement between Greece and Turkey.

The reason for Greenpeace demonstrators' arrest is that it was a non-authorised demonstration. The demonstrators are released. Though the Commission would like to see freedom of demonstration in Turkey based on Community standards, this incident does not appear to have been anti-democratic.

(1) OJ L 30, 6.2.1993.