WRITTEN QUESTION E-3403/02 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE),José Mendiluce Pereiro (PSE) and Daniel Cohn-Bendit (Verts/ALE) to the Council. Ecological disaster caused by the Prestige oil spill.
Date: 2002-11-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, EU environmental policy, EU waters, environmental law, man-made disaster, maritime safety, oil pollution, tanker, transport of dangerous goods

18.9.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 222 E/57

(2003/C 222 E/062)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3403/02

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE),
José Mendiluce Pereiro (PSE) and Daniel Cohn-Bendit (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(29 November 2002)

Subject: Ecological disaster caused by the Prestige oil spill

On 13 November 2002 the Prestige oil tanker had an extremely serious accident off the coast of Galicia.

As a result of the oil spill which followed, and which may still continue, Spain and Europe are now facing
a major ecological, social and economic disaster.

In the wake of a series of similar disasters (the accidents involving the Urquiola in 1976, the Amoco Cadiz
in 1978, the Cason in 1987, the Aegean Sea in 1992, the Braer in 1993, the Sea Empress in 1996 and the
ERIKA in 1999) the European Union has adopted a large number of texts in this field. Nevertheless, all the
signs are that the checks imposed on the transport of oil by sea do not guarantee adequate protection.

What measures will the Council adopt in response to the Prestige disaster with regard to maritime safety
and the immediate consequences of the oil spill for the environment, economy and communities affected?

(2003/C 222 E/063)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3438/02

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Council

Subject: Prestige oil tanker accident off the coast of Galicia

(2 December 2002)

On 13 November 2002 the Prestige oil tanker, carrying 77 000 tonnes of fuel oil, had a serious accident
off the Galician coast, causing a disaster with incalculable ecological, economic and social consequences for
Galicia, an Objective 1 region heavily dependent on fisheries where fishing accounts for more than 10 % of
GDP.

1. Will the Council provide special aid to lessen as far as possible the damage caused? Will it mobilise
the Solidarity Fund if the European Parliament so requests?

2.

Can the Council confirm that the Prestige was sailing from Estonia and heading for Gibraltar?

Can the Council say whether it met all the legal requirements to sail in Community waters and enter

3.
and leave European ports?

Can the Council say whether the composition of the fuel oil it was carrying complied with the

4.
criteria laid down by Community rules?

Does the Council not believe that accidents such as this could be reduced by drawing up more

5.
stringent legislation and establishing stricter controls?

Does the Council not believe that these circumstances call for a change to Community legislation to

6.
bring forward the entry into force of the double-hull construction requirement?

7.
Does it not believe that the transport of dangerous goods by sea needs to be kept at a distance from
the coast so as to prevent damage to the marine ecosystem in highly fisheries-dependent regions such as
Galicia?