WRITTEN QUESTION E-1169/01

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(19 April 2001)

Subject: Pollution of the Mediterranean

Oil emissions caused by discharges of tankers' washing water have brought the Mediterranean to the brink of disaster.

Worrying data comes in the form of the 1600 satellite photographs compiled by the European Commission's Research Centre - the only reliable evidence of oil pollution in the Mediterranean. 70 % of the oil released into the Mediterranean by ships results from traditional practices, since discharging into the sea is quicker and cheaper.

At the bottom of the Mediterranean, the concentration of tar is currently 38 milligrammes per cubic metre.

The slow discharge of oil into the Mediterranean is causing irreparable environmental damage which is much more serious than that seen recently in the Galapagos islands.

In view of the above, and in view of the environmental programmes which the European Community has set up in the past to protect the sea from oil pollution,

Can the Commission answer the following questions:

1. Is it aware of the above data on pollution?

2. Has it already tackled the emergency in the Mediterranean, and if so, with what measures?

3. What initiatives does it intend to take to solve the problem?

4. Does it plan to set up a supervisory body to put a stop to this illegal and highly environmentally damaging practice?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(21 June 2001)

The Commission is greatly concerned by pollution caused by operational discharges from ships in Community waters. This represents a great share of the total marine oil pollution.

Indeed, the data recently compiled by the Joint Research Centre on the basis of satellite images, gives, for the first time, a more precise idea of the extent of this type of pollution in the Mediterranean.

A great deal of operational pollution coming from all types of ships in Community waters results from the inability of some ports to provide adequate waste reception facilities and of course, from the reluctance of ships to use them for various reasons. The recently adopted Parliament and Council Directive 2000/59/EC of 27 November 2000(1) on port reception facilities for ship-generated waste and cargo residues, addresses these issues and introduces a number of requirements on both ports and ships to ensure that adequate facilities are available in all Community ports and that they are used by ships.

Regarding the control of such illegal discharges in the Mediterranean, under International Maritime Law this is a question that falls primarily under the responsibility of the concerned riparian States. However, the Commission would like to draw the attention of the Honourable Member to Decision 2850/2000/EC of 20 December 2000 of the Parliament and of the Council setting up a Community framework for co-operation in the field of accidental or deliberate marine pollution(3). This framework will in particular allow the development of joint initiatives such as workshops or training courses in order to improve the techniques for identifying contravening vessels. It will also improve the exchange of information on the efficiency of the prosecution systems applied in the different Member States. This will create synergies at Community level and should ultimately permit the implementation of dissuasive sanctions against the parties responsible for such criminal acts.

The prosecution of deliberate discharges by environmental criminal liability would constitute a major advance in fighting this source of pollution. This is why it has been included in the scope of the recent proposal from the Commission for a Directive concerning the protection of environment by criminal law(2).

Moreover, the Commission closely follows and fully supports the work done in this respect in the framework of the Barcelona Convention for the protection of the Mediterranean.

(1) OJ L 332, 28.12.2000.

(2) COM(2001) 139 final.

(3) OJ L 332, 28.12.2000.