WRITTEN QUESTION E-3657/02 by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission. Black tide in Galicia: moving the Finisterre corridor further away from the coast.
Date: 2002-12-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: International Maritime Organisation, UN convention, coastal protection, common transport policy, freedom of navigation, maritime safety, oil pollution, shipping policy

14.8.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 192 E/127

Even though this is a praiseworthy decision, it has been criticised because it is not in keeping with the
International Convention on the Law of the Sea. Article 58 of that Convention establishes the freedom of
navigation and overflight in this area of the exclusive economic zone, in which any restriction on freedom
of movement must be imposed by the IMO and not by one or various States acting unilaterally.

What is the Commission’s view of this statement by the Governments of Spain and France?

Agreeing on the need to reduce the risk of fresh disasters, will the Commission urge the Member States to
submit a reasoned communication to the International Maritime Organisation, pursuant to Article 211(6)
of the Convention on the Law of the Sea, requesting authorisation to restrict the free transit of such vessels
in this defined zone?

(2003/C 192 E/127)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3657/02

by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(18 December 2002)

Subject: Black tide in Galicia: moving the Finisterre corridor further away from the coast

European public opinion is very concerned at the risks to the coastline stemming from the transit of oil
tankers transporting highly polluting goods at a short distance from the coast. A globalisation process is
taking place in which the grey part, which commits a whole range of abusive practices such as the
exploitation of workers and assaults on the environment, is larger than the part regulated by international
organisations and by states. 60 % of the world merchant fleet sails under flags of convenience.

For example, traffic through the Finisterre corridor, set at a distance of 25 miles from the coast, stands at
65 000 merchant vessels per year, 6 000 of them carrying dangerous goods, which means that a Prestige
passes every one and a half hours.

Will the Commission submit a proposal aimed at setting new shipping lanes further away from the coast,
thereby reducing the risk of fresh black tides?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-3653/02 and E-3657/02
given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(11 February 2003)

The Commission is aware that coastal States need to be able to protect their coastlines from the risks
posed by shipping in areas as busy as Cape Finisterre.

Accordingly, a draft regulation prohibiting the transport of heavy fuel oil in single hull tankers bound for
or leaving EU ports and speeding up the replacement of single hull ships by double hull ships was sent to
the Council and Parliament on 20 December 2002.

In addition, the Commission believes that the international rules of the law of the sea currently lean too far
towards the right to free navigation, at the expense of coastal States’ interests. However, the Commission
itself has no authority to propose the introduction of new measures to keep ships which pose a risk away
from the coasts.

Accordingly, and as announced in its communication of 3 December 2002 (1), the Commission will be
seeking a negotiating mandate from the Council, for those areas in which it has competence, and will
coordinate the Member States’ action in the other areas, with a view to amending the United Nations
Convention on the Law of
the Sea to strike a better balance between environmental protection
requirements and freedom of navigation.

C 192 E/128

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

14.8.2003

The Commission will also support, and where necessary coordinate, all action by the Member States within
the International Maritime Organisation to create new tools to monitor and manage maritime traffic, thus
protecting their coastal waters, and especially their territorial waters and exclusive economic zones, against
threats to the marine environment.

(1) COM(2002) 681 final.

(2003/C 192 E/128)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3680/02

by Fernando Fernández Martín (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 December 2002)

Subject: Zimbabwe

With reference to Zimbabwe, will the Commission specify the projects which were financed out of the EU
budget in 2000?

Will the Commission state the total amount of aid allocated in 2000 to all the headings relating to that
country?

(2003/C 192 E/129)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3681/02

by Fernando Fernández Martín (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 December 2002)

Subject: Zimbabwe

With regard to Zimbabwe, can the Commission supply a list of projects approved for funding from the EU
budget in 2001, specifying the total amount of investment for that year?

(2003/C 192 E/130)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3682/02

by Fernando Fernández Martín (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 December 2002)

Subject: Solomon Islands

With regard to the Solomon Islands, can the Commission state which projects were financed from the EU
budget in 2000?

Can it specify the total volume of aid over 2000 for all the headings relating to that country?

(2003/C 192 E/131)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3683/02

by Fernando Fernández Martín (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 December 2002)

Subject: Solomon Islands

With regard to the Solomon Islands, can the Commission supply a list of projects approved for funding
from the EU budget in 2001, specifying the total amount of investment for that year?