Parliament backs stricter maritime safety rules

2308, 25/04/07

The European parliament has backed a package of laws put forward by the European commission to strengthen EU maritime safety rules. The package, known as Erika III, is intended to bolster the prevention of shipping accidents and pollution incidents (EED 24/11/05 http://www.endseuropedaily.com/19894).

Voting at first reading in Strasbourg on Wednesday, the assembly completed the adoption of the package's seven legislative proposals, having already approved two proposals, on the obligations of flag states and passenger rights, at the end of March. The parliament largely followed its transport committee, which voted on the package earlier that month (EED 01/03/07 http://www.endseuropedaily.com/22734).

The parliament gave strong support on Wednesday to proposals on port state controls, traffic monitoring, accident investigations, civil liability and inspection bodies. In particular they voted to tighten up the inspection regime as well as criteria for selecting which ships to inspect and parameters for calculating ships' risk profiles.

MEPs also adopted two controversial amendments on liability. The first one prevents ships' captains and crews from being criminalised in the event of major accidents. The other excludes passenger ships from stronger liability rules when navigating inland waterways.

In a debate before the vote a German presidency representative told MEPs she was confident that "important parts" of the package could be adopted by EU ministers by July. Ministers have already reached an outline agreement on certain elements (EED 12/12/06 http://www.endseuropedaily.com/22243). Once governments have reached a final position the parliament's second reading of the legislation will begin.

Follow-up: European parliament http://www.europarl.eu.int/, tel: +32 2 284 2111, and a press release http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/062-5731-113-04-17-910-20070420IPR05677-23-04-2007-2007-false/default_en.htm.

The amendments adopted by the parliament will be posted here

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/activities/expert/ta.do?language=EN from Thursday.

See reactions from the ALDE http://www.alde.eu/index.php?id=42&tx_ttnews%5btt_news%5d=8565&tx_ttnews%5bbackPid%5d=54&cHash=c0f2435937 and EPP-ED http://www.epp-ed.eu/Press/showpr.asp?PRControlDocTypeID=1&PRControlID=5982&PRContentID=10616&PRContentLG=fr political groups (in French).

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