WRITTEN QUESTION E-3521/02 by Carlos Ripoll y Martínez de Bedoya (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Port inspections.
Date: 2002-12-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Gibraltar, application of EU law, harbour installation, international standard, maritime safety, maritime transport, prevention of pollution, tanker, transport safety

9.10.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 242 E/61

(2003/C 242 E/061)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3521/02

by Carlos Ripoll y Martínez de Bedoya (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 December 2002)

Subject: Port inspections

On 14 November it was stated on the Gibraltar Government’s web page (www.gibraltar.gov.uk) that the
MV Prestige, wrecked off the Galician coast on 13 November, entered Gibraltarian waters only once in the
last four years, simply to refuel (bunkering), without coming into harbour.

This statement indicates that when a vessel is bunkering in those waters from a tank-ship operating as a
fixed port installation, the Gibraltarian authorities do not consider themselves obliged to carry out the
inspections provided for under international and Community legislation (Port State Control).

Does the Commission agree with this interpretation?

Does the Commission consider that bunkering is in fact a port activity and therefore subject to all
obligations stemming from the legislation governing such activities?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(3 February 2003)

It is the Commission’s opinion that it would be wrong to consider that refuelling operations may not give
rise to inspections pursuant to Community legislation on port State control as,
in accordance with
Article 3 of Council Directive 95/21/EC (1), port State control obligations apply to any ship and its crew
calling at a port of a Member State or at an off-shore installation or anchored off such a port or such an
installation.

With regard to oil bunkering activities in Gibraltar, the Honourable Member is asked to refer to the
Commission’s answer
the
December 2002 plenary session of the Parliament.

to Oral Question No H-0800/02 by Mr García Margallo y Marfil at

(1) Council Directive 95/21/EC of 19 June 1995 concerning the enforcement, in respect of shipping using Community
ports and sailing in the waters under the jurisdiction of the Member States, of international standards for ship
safety, pollution prevention and shipboard living and working conditions (cid:1) OJ L 175, 7.7.1995.

(2003/C 242 E/062)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3567/02

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE)
and Jan Dhaene (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(12 December 2002)

Subject: Applications for ‘.eu’ domain names

Regulation (EC) No 733/2002 (1) refers to the introduction of an ‘.eu’ top level domain. It states that the
introduction of such a domain should increase choice and competition and promote the internal market.
Article 4(2)(b) mentions the various parties who may apply for and register domain names. Article 5(2)
rightly provides that, within three months of publication, Member States may notify a list of domain
names with regard, for example, to geopolitical concepts. Subsequently, from 2003, a process of delegated
registration is to begin via ICANN, according to the information note of November 2002 on the ‘.eu’ top
level domain. In the course of 2003, the various organisations, businesses and natural persons may register
for a domain name. However, inquiries among a limited sample of the population suggest that not enough
information is reaching the public as yet. Moreover, it has become apparent that the various internet
providers have not yet arrived at a uniform price for an ‘.eu’ domain name.