Doc. 9700 rev.

17 February 2003

Reducing sea pollution

Motion for a recommendation

presented by Mr Goulet and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

1.       In recent years Europe has experienced a series of marine disasters which have very seriously affected the environment, the wreck of the Erika off the coast of Brittany (France) in December 1999 and that of the Prestige off the coast of Galicia (Spain) in December 2002 - both of which badly polluted sea and coasts - being only two of the more spectacular examples.

2.       Three years elapsed between these two very similar disasters and effective measures on hazardous seagoing vessels have unfortunately yet to be taken. It is saddeningly plain that Europe has not fully learned the lessons of the Erika accident

3.       The Assembly points out that it has already put forward concrete action proposals for safer sea transport of oil, in particular following the Erika accident (see Resolution 1229 on accidents causing damage to the environment). Three years later, in January 2003, it held an urgent debate on marine pollution, following the Prestige sinking (see Resolution 1317 (2003) on marine pollution).

4.       It regrets that the measures which it has been recommending for years and those advocated by the European Union and many international organisations have not been fully put into effect, for they would greatly reduce the risk of accidental pollution of the seas.

5.       It points out that to the effects of accidental sea pollution must be added those of deliberate oil pollution from degassing and desludging, that this type of pollution is now detectable but that it remains common practice despite being prohibited and despite the penalties.

6.       The Assembly wants drastic reduction of all ocean pollution speedily achieved, at least in Europe. It accordingly recommends that the Committee of Ministers call on member governments to:

i. apply in full the existing regulations on sea transport;

ii. give urgent effect to the measures recently advocated;

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed : 1

Goulet, France, EDG

Agudo, Spain, SOC

Chapman, United Kingdom, EDG

Deittert, Germany, EPP

Ékes, Hungary, EPP

Etherington, United Kingdom, SOC

Fernández Aguilar, Spain, EPP

Floros, Greece, SOC

Giertych, Poland, EDG

Graas, Luxembourg, LDR

Grabowski, Poland, NR

Hladiy, Ukraine, EDG

Högmark, Sweden, EPP

Ilaşcu, Romania, NR

Lengagne, France, SOC

Lobkowicz, Czech Republic, EPP

Meale, United Kingdom, SOC

Mesquita, Portugal, UEL

Mincevič, Lithuania, NR

Nazaré Pereira, Portugal, EPP

O'Hara, United Kingdom, SOC

Padilla, Spain, EPP

Rizzi, Italy, EPP

Schmied, Switzerland, LDR

Sfyriou, Greece, SOC

Střjberg, Denmark, LDR

Timmermans, Belgium, SOC

1        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group