WRITTEN QUESTION E-0075/00

by Gérard Caudron (PSE) to the Commission

(24 January 2000)

Subject: Question of Cypriot and Maltese flags of convenience following the wreck of the Erika

On 12 December 1999 the wreck of the Erika, an oil tanker flying the Maltese flag, stirred up again the controversy over flags of convenience.

The largest merchant fleets are those of Liberia, Honduras, Panama and the Bahamas, but also Cyprus and Malta, two countries that are preparing to enter the European Union. These countries offer ridiculously low registration charges, low taxation on the operating revenues of vessels, and reduced safety and inspection legislation. The Director-General of DG Transport, Mr Lamoureux, has expressed doubts about the genuineness of inspections carried out within those states. It has been stressed repeatedly that the authorities in charge of such inspections do no more than check the vessels' papers and do not take the trouble to visit the vessels.

The accession negotiations with Cyprus were formally opened on 31 March 1998, and this can only be welcomed.

Malta's application for accession having been reactivated in October 1998, bilateral intergovernmental conferences will start as soon as February with a view to opening negotiations to determine the terms of its accession.

Will the Commission place on the agenda for those meetings the maritime safety issues closely linked to the existence of flags of convenience?

Finally, the French Minister for Transport has decided to bring together maritime transport experts and professionals at a round table to discuss drawing up a maritime safety charter. Does the Commission intend to support that initiative?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(22 February 2000)

In the context of the negotiations for the accession of Malta and Cyprus to the European Union, those countries' attention has repeatedly been drawn to the need to improve the maritime safety standards of vessels registered under their flags.

Discussions on this matter with Cyprus are at a more advanced stage and are beginning to bear fruit. Cyprus has given notification of a number of provisions to improve the performance of its maritime authorities and registry, and an action plan is being drawn up. Discussions with Malta started more recently. In its regular report on progress towards Malta's accession of October 1999(1) the Commission noted that Malta was still not applying certain safety and pollution standards required under Community law. There was an urgent need for progress in this direction. The maritime safety performance of vessels on the Maltese register was worrying. Improving the administration of Malta as a flag State remained a priority. An effective strategy should be introduced for removing from the register vessels that did not comply with standards.

The Commission will regularly monitor the progress of Cyprus and Malta towards these objectives.

The Commission welcomes the French authorities' intention to organise a round table to draw up a maritime safety charter. The Commission for its part does not intend to remain inactive, and is drafting a communication on oil tanker safety accompanied by legislative measures for tighter checks on hazardous vessels, additional requirements for classification societies and an accelerated timetable for the phasing out of single-hull vessels.

The Commission hopes that this communication, which it plans to adopt at the end of March, will launch a far-reaching debate in Parliament and the Council and rapidly lead to more effective protection of the European coastline against oil pollution.

(1) CSR(99) 508 final.