Revision of the Directive on Ship-Source Pollution

Background

The European Commission's proposal aims to prevent any type of illegal discharges into European seas, which is essential to lower the environmental impact of maritime transport activities and preserve the marine ecosystem. Key measures are: detect illegal discharges, pursue infringements and sanction perpetrators of illegal activities.

To this end, the proposal:

• aligns EU rules with international regulations and extends the scope to cover a wider range of polluting substances. In addition to illegal discharges of oil and noxious liquid substances, which were covered under existing rules, the Commission proposes to also include discharges of harmful substances carried in packaged form, sewage, garbage, as well as discharge waters and residues from Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems (scrubbers).
• optimises CleanSeaNet - EMSA's surveillance and information sharing database and provides for information sharing and follow up obligations by national authorities responsible for the detection and verification of potential pollution. The enhanced system will facilitate timely enforcement as well as cooperation between Member States in case of cross-border ship-source pollution incidents.
• establishes a strengthened legal framework for penalties and their application, enabling national authorities to take adequate action in case of illegal discharge and impose penalties, such as fines. The proposal puts forward minimum criteria for the effective application of administrative penalties, such as the gravity of the discharge, its impact on the environment or the financial strength of the responsible entity.

Key points

• The EESC welcomes the proposal and recognises the European Commission's efforts to strengthen environmental protection, in particular by making the preservation of the seas a high priority and by introducing penalties for pollution offences in European seas.
• The EESC acknowledges that it is important to have dissuasive and proportionate penalties across the EU for ship-source pollution offences. Establishing such minimum requirements as a reference point and holding the polluter accountable by applying the "polluter pays" principle could be beneficial and have a strong deterrent effect in the EU.
• Effective monitoring, control, identification and enforcement of pollution offences will require both a skilled workforce and technological advancements, including drone technology and satellite imagery. There is a need for properly trained, skilled professionals, for reskilling and up-skilling and further training of staff and crew in shipping, and for mandatory inspections in the event of marine pollution incidents, with due consideration to be given at all times to occupational health and safety protection on the ship and for the staff of the responsible authorities, including port staff.

Additional information

Section: Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society (TEN)

Opinion number: TEN/809

Opinion type: Mandatory

Referral: COM(2023) 273 final 2023/0171 COD COM(2023) 273 final 2023/0171 COD

Rapporteur: Constantine Catsambis (Employers - Group I / Greece)

Date of adoption by section: 6 September 2023

Result of the vote: 30 in favour, 0 against, 0 abstentions

Date of adoption in plenary: 20-21 September 2023

Result of the vote: 217 in favour, 0 against, 6 abstentions

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