The "Erika III" package, aimed at protecting Europe's coasts from maritime disasters and improving passenger and crew safety, was adopted by Parliament on Wednesday. The eight regulations and directives will tighten safety requirements for ships flying an EU Member State flag or navigating in European waters and thus help prevent disasters such as the Erika and Prestige shipwrecks from spoiling European coasts.
This legislation represents a major victory for Parliament, which successfully pushed for tougher rules despite strong resistance from the Council (EU national governments) during negotiations on the package. The new rules provide for a range of measures including:
- Permanent blacklisting of dangerous ships and tougher and more frequent inspections
- Stricter insurance requirements for ship-owners and better compensation to passengers in the event of accidents
- Mandatory compliance with international safety standards for ships flying a Member State flag
- An independent authority to be set up in each Member State with the power to launch rescue operations and decide where to take ships in distress
Maritime safety has long been a priority of the European Parliament, which in 2002 set up a temporary committee on improving safety at sea following the Erika and Prestige oil-spills of 1999 and 2002 respectively. Under the previous two packages of maritime safety legislation (known as Erika I and Erika II), the EU adopted important maritime safety and security laws providing among other things for ship inspections in port, a ban on single-hull vessels to transport oil and the creation of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA).
The Commission put forward the Erika III package in November 2005. All through the legislative process, Parliament defended the highest safety standards possible for the maritime environment, coastal areas, and ship passengers and crew. After three years of protracted negotiations with national transport ministers, MEPs secured an agreement last December during a conciliation meeting with Council representatives.
The Commission put forward the Erika III package in November 2005. All through the legislative process, Parliament defended the highest safety standards possible for the maritime environment, coastal areas, and ship passengers and crew. After three years of protracted negotiations with national transport ministers, MEPs secured an agreement last December during a conciliation meeting with Council representatives.