WRITTEN QUESTION E-3632/02

by Isidoro Sánchez García (ELDR) to the Commission

(17 December 2002)

Subject: Measures to prevent/compensate for disasters such as the sinking of the Prestige

Over the last 10 years, three oil tankers carrying hazardous products have come to grief off EU coastal regions, thereby inflicting an ecological disaster on the areas concerned. The most recent case (involving the Prestige) has acquired notoriety on account of the attendant social, technical, economic and ecological circumstances and the many damaging effects which it has had on Galician society.

In view of this state of affairs, what action does the Commission intend to take in order to put right the damage which the disaster has done to Galicia and to prevent similar disasters from occurring in Community waters, particularly those of the EU's outermost regions, so as to ensure that safety prevails in the affected eco-systems and that the resources thereof are protected?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(30 January 2003)

On 20 December 2002 the Council adopted a Regulation instituting a specific measure aimed at promoting the recovery of fish stocks and aquaculture sites affected by the oil slick caused by the tanker Prestige(1).

The Regulation lays down exceptional supporting measures for the persons and enterprises engaged in the fisheries, shellfish industry and aquaculture in the Spanish coastal areas affected by the oil pollution from the Prestige.

The support measures comprise:

- compensation to persons and owners of enterprises for the temporary cessation of their activities,

- aid for replacing fishing gear,

- aid for cleaning, repairing and reconstructing shellfish and aquaculture sites,

- compensation for replacing shellfish stocks.

The Regulation also provides for a number of derogations from the criteria which expenditure must satisfy in order to receive part-financing from the FIFG under Council Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999(2), in order to facilitate and speed up the provision of aid to the pollution victims.

The Regulation also authorises the release of additional appropriations (EUR 30 million) under the aid provided for by Council Regulation (EC) No 2561/2001 of 17 December 2001 aiming to promote the conversion of fishing vessels and of fishermen that were, up to 1999, dependent on the fishing agreement with Morocco(3).

Also, on 3 December 2002 the Commission adopted a communication on improving safety at sea in response to the Prestige accident(4), an initiative supported by the transport Council of 6 December 2002 in its conclusions.

On 20 December 2002 the Commission adopted a proposal for a Regulation which would ban the transport of heavy fuel by single-hull tankers to or from EU ports and accelerate the replacement of single-hull vessels by double-hull vessels(5); the proposal is currently being examined by Parliament and the Council.

Similarly, the Commission has already started to draw up a number of new legislative measures intended inter alia to impose criminal penalties on any person (i.e. not only the shipowner, but also the owner of the cargo, the classification society or any other person involved) who has contributed to pollution through gross negligence.

The Commission would also like to remind the Honourable Member that, under the rules in force, in order to combat the consequences of the disaster the Spanish Government has the option of using a number of ERDF and Cohesion Fund appropriations already allocated to Spain for 2000-2006.

The Commission would like to take this opportunity to inform the Honourable Member that to date the Spanish authorities have told us only that they wish to use measure 3.5 (Actuaciones medioambientales en costas) of the operational programme (OP) Galicia 2000-2006, allocated with ERDF aid of EUR 64 516 472, to undertake cleaning work.

On 14 January 2003 the Commission received an official request from the Spanish authorities to mobilise the Solidarity Fund for aid to pay the costs of cleaning the Galician coast soiled by oil slicks following the shipwreck of the Prestige. The Commission is examining the implementation of their request on the basis of the information received, and will respond as soon as possible in accordance with the rules.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 2372/2002 of 20 December 2002 instituting specific measures to compensate the Spanish fisheries, shellfish industry and aquaculture, affected by the oil spills from the Prestige, OJ L 358, 31.12.2002.

(2) Council Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 of 17 December 1999 laying down the detailed rules and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector, OJ L 337, 30.12.1999.

(3) OJ L 344, 28.12.2001.

(4) COM(2002) 681 final.

(5) COM(2002) 780 final.