WRITTEN QUESTION E-1257/03 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. European Union initiative on revision of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in order to protect coastal countries.
Date: 2003-04-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: UN convention, coastal region, environmental risk prevention, law of the sea, marine pollution, maritime safety, pollution from ships

15.1.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 11 E/169

This action plan, ‘Investing in research: an action plan for Europe’, presents a coherent package of concrete
actions at European, national and regional
level to make Europe more attractive to researchers and
investors. In particular, it is aimed at improving the general conditions, raising the level and effectiveness
of public financing, consolidating relations between universities and industry, facilitating access to funding
for setting up enterprises and for the critical phases of enterprise growth (with the support of the
European Investment Bank and the European Investment Funds), encouraging Member States to take
concerted action and improving the coordination of Community and national policies.

With regard to researchers in Europe in particular, the Commission, in close cooperation with the Member
States and the States associated with the Framework Programme for Research and Technological
Development (FPRD),
is implementing a series of measures to attract researchers to Europe and keep
them in scientific careers to plug the brain drain described by the Honourable Member. To this end, the
funding allocated under the 6th Framework Programme to human resources and mobility has been
significantly increased (+ 60 %). The Commission is also preparing a communication on research careers
which it plans to adopt in the next few months.

(1) COM(2002) 499 final.
(2) COM(2003) 226 final.

(2004/C 11 E/193)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1257/03

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(3 April 2003)

Subject: European Union initiative on revision of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in

order to protect coastal countries

The communication from the Commission to the Council of 5 March 2003 (1) on action to deal with the
effects of the Prestige disaster mentions the need to take the initiative in proposing the revision of the
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to afford better protection for coastal states, including
within the 200-mile exclusive zone, against risks associated with the passage of ships constituting a danger
to the environment and which do not comply with safety standards.

What is the current outcome of this initiative?

(1) COM(2003) 105 final.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2003)

As announced on several occasions, in particular in the two communications which it adopted, following
in December 2002 and in March 2003, the Commission is considering
the sinking of the Prestige,
proposing a revision of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in order to increase the
responsibilities of the Coastal States with regard to the prevention of pollution of the marine environment.
The objective pursued is crucial, since it is a question of protecting European coasts against ships which,
while not ensuring a high level of safety, carry hazardous and very polluting products, and therefore
constitute a threat to the environment.

However, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea cannot be revised until November 2004,
i.e. ten years after it entered into force.

In the immediate future, it is also crucially important how well the International Maritime Organisation
receives the EU’s proposals concerning the prevention of marine pollution (proposal to revise the Marpol
Convention).