WRITTEN QUESTION E-3546/02

by Michel-Ange Scarbonchi (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(11 December 2002)

Subject: Creation of a fleet of European coastguard ships

After the sinking of the Erika, the Prestige oil spill on 19 November 2002 off the coast of Galicia, Spain has shown us the serious inadequacies in the control and monitoring of ships at sea.

The Commission must act as quickly as possible in the face of environmental disasters like these. The decision taken at the Franco-Spanish Summit in Malaga, in accordance with Article 56 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, to limit access for the most dangerous oil tankers to the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), less than 200 nautical miles (360 km) from the coast, gives cause for hope.

However, the crisis that an oil spill presents for local communities and the local authorities and its consequences for the environment and sectors of the economy such as fishing and tourism, requires that new rules concerning the transport of high-risk goods, as well as new monitoring measures, are drawn up on a European scale.

The precautionary principle means that the setting up of a European police force of the seas must now be considered. The creation of a fleet of European coastguard ships would allow maritime law to be enforced more effectively.

There are many arguments in favour of a new administrative body, which could be placed under the control of the European Parliament and under the responsibility of the maritime authorities of the Member States. On the eve of the next enlargement of the European Union, this would send a strong message in favour of a Europe of the sea. What is the Council's view on this?

Is the Council willing to make proposals that would serve as a common basis for a European campaign for safety at sea, with emphasis on the strict monitoring of the ships in circulation?

Reply

(4 March 2003)

1. The Council agrees with the Honourable Member that with a view to facing the situation created by those maritime accidents, there is a clear need for a co-ordinated EU response. This is the position it has constantly repeated and sustained. In particular, the Council recalls that, on 20 December, it has unanimously adopted a Regulation instituting specific measures to compensate the Spanish fisheries, shellfish industry and aquaculture, affected by the oil spills from the Prestige. The Commission presented its proposal on 19 December. The European Parliament gave its Opinion on the same day. The aims of the proposal are to help compensating the damages, by a contribution of the Community. A financial assistance is foreseen through the reallocation of funds including the reprogramming of the Spanish share (around EUR 80 million) of the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG). Part of the budgetary resources (around EUR 30 million) for the conversion of the Spanish vessels that were up to 1999 dependent on the fishing agreement with Morocco will also be used for the reparation of the damages in question.

2. At its meeting on 19 December 2002 the Council adopted the following statement:

The Council, having in mind the serious accident of the oil tanker Prestige off the north west coast of Spain, welcomes the steps taken for the purpose of the rapid adoption of the draft Framework Decision on the protection of the environment through criminal law.

In this context, the Council notes the conclusions of the European Council of 12/13 December 2002 regarding Maritime safety/marine pollution, that welcomes the action undertaken by the Commission to confront the consequences derived of that event and its intention to examine the need for further specific measures and, among them, questions relating to liability and the corresponding sanctions. Therefore, in full consistency with the measures to be considered in accordance with the Community powers in the fields of protection of transport safety(1) and protection of the environment(2), the Council should consider complementary measures to strengthen the protection of the environment, in particular the seas, through criminal law.

3. As for the creation of a European Coast Guard, it is not for the Council to give its views on any submissions made to, or proposals discussed by, the Convention on the future of Europe.

(1) Transport Council Conclusions (6 December 2002).

(2) Environment Council Conclusions (10 December 2002).