WRITTEN QUESTION P-0723/01 by Patrick Cox (ELDR) to the Commission. Regulation No 2978/94 relating to segregated ballast tanks (SBT) for tankers.
Date: 2001-03-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: crew, environmental law, maritime safety, maritime transport, remuneration of work, tanker, transport regulations

C 261 E/184

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.9.2001

In view of the enormous interest aroused by this subject and the considerable number of requests for
information about regulatory and administrative obstacles in this field, the Commission confirmed in its
work programme for the current year (cid:129) which, incidentally, has already been submitted to Parliament (cid:129)
an interpretative communication on the application of the principles of free movement of goods and
services with regard to the use of satellite dishes (operation 2000/378).

It therefore reaffirms here its intention to submit such a document shortly for the various parties
concerned, particularly consumers who, as the recipients of services, also benefit from the free movement
of services which is a basic freedom directly applicable in national legal systems.

More generally, the Commission has recently set out a new Internal Market Strategy for Services (2), the
ultimate aim of which is to remove barriers to the free movement of services across borders using, inter
alia, non-legislative instruments such as a communication on satellite dishes.

(1) OJ C 26 E, 26.1.2001.
(2) COM(2000) 888 final.

(2001/C 261 E/209)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0723/01

by Patrick Cox (ELDR) to the Commission

(6 March 2001)

Subject: Regulation No 2978/94 relating to segregated ballast tanks (SBT) for tankers

The effect of Regulation No 2978/94 (1), has been to adversely affect pilots(cid:146) remuneration and their
pension which is based on their last year(cid:146)s earnings. In particular I refer to pilots on the river Shannon in
Ireland who are licensed by Shannon Estuary Ports and are self-employed. To the best of my knowledge
these are the only pilots in Ireland affected adversely by the regulation. Their remuneration is achieved on
a share basis and their income fluctuates depending on the amount of traffic entering the Shannon estuary.
Pilotage rates are levied on ships based on the vessel(cid:146)s gross tonnage. The regulation states that tankers
with SBT should have their gross tonnage reduced by a minimum of 17 %.

Was the intention of the regulation to adversely affect pilots(cid:146) remuneration? Has this affected pilots in
other Member States in a similar manner?

What steps, if any, does the Commission intend to take in order to rectify this situation?

(1) OJ L 319, 12.12.1994, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(19 April 2001)

Council Regulation (EC) No 2978/94 of 21 November 1994 of 21 November 1994 on the implementa-
tion of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Resolution A.747(18) on the application of tonnage
measurement of ballast spaces in segregated ballast oil tankers, aims at implementing the Resolution
A.747(18) adopted on 4 November 1993 by the IMO, the objective of which is to encourage the use of
environmentally friendly tankers and the use of segregated ballast tanks in oil tankers. This Regulation
introduces a differential calculation system for fees for oil tankers to be followed by port, harbour and
pilotage authorities in order to reach the objective of the IMO Resolution.

18.9.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 261 E/185

The Regulation does not affect the level of the fees nor the differentiation of the pilotage dues based upon
the ship(cid:146)s type. This is a matter which, in line with the principal of subsidiarity, has intentionally been left
to the sole responsibility of the Member States.

The Commission has no information on an adverse effect of this Regulation on pilots(cid:146) remuneration in
other Member States.

The Commission draws the Honorouble Member(cid:146)s attention to the Commission(cid:146)s Communication on the
safety of the seaborne oil trade (1) and in particular to the proposed legislative measure regarding the
accelerated phasing-in of double hull or equivalent design standards for single hull oil tankers. This
proposal foresees the repeal of Council Regulation (EC) No 2978/94.

(1) COM(2000) 142 final.

(2001/C 261 E/210)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0726/01

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

(6 March 2001)

Subject: The spread of immigration in Europe

It is obvious that virtually all the governments of the European Union are now struggling with the
problem of immigration into Europe. I would cite merely the 910 Kurds who arrived by boat barely a
week ago on the C(cid:244)te d(cid:146)Azur, the hundreds of immigrants found, yet again, on the beaches of Southern
Spain in the last few days, and the shipload of immigrants who besieged the Belgian coast and threw the
Belgian Government into crisis.

Given the need to develop a global policy for immigration into Europe, what proposals in this area does
the Commission intend to make at the forthcoming Stockholm European Summit on 23 and 24 March?
How does the Commission assess the possibilities for harmonising the rules on asylum in the Member
States, following the studies which have been carried out? At the forthcoming Stockholm Summit, how
does it intend to tackle the issue of much-needed measures to combat the traffic in human beings carried
out by Mafia networks throughout Europe?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(10 April 2001)

The Commission believes that it is essential to develop policies at the Union level to deal with issues of
illegal immigration in the light of the competence provided by Article 63, 3(b) (ex Article 73K) of the EC
Treaty. Although no binding Community rules have yet been adopted, Member States are obliged to fulfil
the requirements of the Schengen acquis in so far as they are applicable in the respective State. However,
the Commission considers it important to initiate new measures at Union level. Accordingly, in December
2000,
the Commission adopted a Communication on combating trafficking in human beings and
combating the sexual exploitation of children and child pornography (1) which includes a proposal for a
Council framework decision on combating trafficking in human beings. In addition the Commission will
present to the Council and the Parliament a communication on a common fight against illegal immigra-
tion. This communication will outline which future measures and forms of co-operation are necessary.

The European Council, which met in Stockholm on 23-24 March 2001, recognised the progress being
made in the implementation of the Lisbon strategy for the economic and social development of Europe
and agreed on new priorities for action. One of the elements in this strategy is the admission of economic