WRITTEN QUESTION E-3134/00 by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission. Rules for single-hull oil tankers.
Date: 2000-10-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Asia, common transport policy, international competition, labour market, safety standard, shipbuilding, tanker

22.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 151 E/75

ESF measures are therefore not limited to the sectors in which women are under-represented, but also
serve the general improvement of women(cid:146)s employability in order to consolidate their presence on the
labour market.

Under the new ESF programme for 2000-2006, the Commission has reinforced the dimension of equal
opportunities for women and men, in terms of the planning, monitoring and evaluation of measures. The
Community Support Framework (CSF)
for Objective 3 for Spain, and in particular the operational
programme (OP) for Catalonia, make provision for the horizontal integration of equal opportunities, as
well as specific measures for women.

For the first time, the Objective 3 CSF and OP monitoring committees include representatives from
organisations responsible for equal opportunities, which should serve the effective application of the
principle of equal opportunities in the ESF. There is a commitment in the OPs to observe the principle of
equal opportunities, and this principle will also be the subject of thematic evaluations.

In any event, it is the responsibility of the Member State to implement the programme, which must meet
the statutory requirements and comply with the principle of equal treatment set out in Council Directive
76/207/EEC of 9 February 1976 on the implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and
women as regards access to employment, vocational training and promotion, and working conditions (2).
Measures which do not meet these requirements or comply with the principle of equal treatment cannot
be regarded as eligible.

(1) OJ L 213, 13.8.1999.
(2) OJ L 39, 14.2.1976.

(2001/C 151 E/086)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3134/00

by Rosa MiguØlez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(6 October 2000)

Subject: Rules for single-hull oil tankers

Within the framework of the legislative package on maritime safety, the Commission has submitted a
proposal for the rapid introduction of rules for oil tankers which need to be converted from being single-
hulled to a double hull or equivalent design.

In the section on the impact of the proposal on companies, particular SMEs, the Commission says that it
expects this to benefit employment, by increasing demand in shipyards. However, it notes the aggressive
competition represented by Far Eastern shipyards, which might well receive the bulk of orders placed as a
result of the proposal.

Could the Commission give specific figures as to how many contracts are envisaged, and how many jobs
this represents? Can it provide a breakdown showing how many of these jobs would be in European
shipyards?

With regard to the capacity of the Asian shipyards, can the Commission state whether they meet the
minimum requisite standards for social and labour conditions, non-pollutant processes and technological
capacity?

If the major advantage of the Asian shipyards with regard to contracts of this kind is based on social,
environmental and technological dumping, what measures does the Commission intend to take to ensure
fair competition and equal opportunities for European shipyards?

C 151 E/76

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

22.5.2001

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(16 November 2000)

The aim of the proposal for a regulation of the Parliament and of the Council on the accelerated phasing-
in of double hull or equivalent design requirements for single hull oil tankers (1) is to ensure that the
transport of oil and oil products by sea is carried out in safe and acceptable conditions, with a minimum
risk of oil pollution in case of accidents. Harmonised action is necessary to avoid re-occurrence of oil
pollution of European coasts, fauna and flora and harm to the marine environment.

The means to achieve this improvement is by accelerating the phasing-in of double hull tankers i.e.
replacing single hull tankers with double hull tankers. It is not possible to give concrete numbers on the
impact of this measure upon employment of seafarers as it is not possible to establish how operators will
use their vessels in the coming 15 years, nor to establish under what flag operators will be sailing.

The Commission proposal, if adopted by the Parliament and the Council, will increase the demand for new
building, which is expected to have a positive effect for the shipbuilding industry. However, it can be
expected that due to the excess shipbuilding capacity available in the Far East and the fierce and aggressive
pricing policy of that industry, European shipyards will have to compete with Asian shipyards as regards
the major part of new shipbuilding orders arising from the accelerated phasing-in scheme, in particular in
the segment of the large tankers. The positive impact on employment for the European shipbuilding
industry may therefore be mitigated, although it can be expected that European shipyards will secure a
share in this replacement scheme, particularly for smaller oil tankers. In addition, European yards(cid:146) main
benefit from the increased demand for tankers will be indirect, since this could reduce the pressure from
Far East competition in other market segments.

The Commission has no evidence that the competitive advantage of the Asian shipbuilding industry is
based upon cutting corners on social and labour conditions or on technological or environmental
dumping. Detailed price monitoring commissioned by the Commission has revealed that market distor-
tions have to a large extent originated from systematic price undercuttings by South Korean yards. Their
prices often do not cover all financial costs and therefore do not represent the ship(cid:146)s normal value as
defined in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) anti dumping agreement. In view of these findings, the
Commission is of the opinion that measures aimed at ensuring a level playing field for the European
shipbuilding industry should not be based on alleged social, technological or environmental dumping, but
rather should focus on the termination of Korea(cid:146)s non-market oriented pricing practices. The Commission
is currently engaged in bilateral consultations with Korea, and has not ruled out the possibility to raise the
issue in a WTO context.

(1) OJ C 212 E, 25.7.2000.

(2001/C 151 E/087)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3136/00

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(6 October 2000)

Subject: The fuel revolt

Brent crude has hit a new record in the last few days, even after the OPEC countries agreed to increase
production to 800 000 barrels a day, which amounts to 3 % of current production. The fuel revolt has
seen the mobilisation of sectors such as agriculture and transport in various Member States. The lack of
stability in the price of crude in tandem with the low exchange rate for the euro on the international
markets, could lead to a fresh rise in inflation in the euro zone, which the latest Eurostat data, published
on 18 September, indicate was already running at 2,3 % in August.