Safety of offshore oil and gas operations

In a public session, information on a proposal for a regulation on safety of offshore oil and gas prospecting, exploration and production activities was presented to the Council. This new proposal, adopted by the Commission in October, is aimed at reducing the risk of a major accident in the EU offshore oil and gas sector and limiting the consequences should such an accident nonetheless occur.

In response to the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig disaster in the Gulf of Mexico in April 2010, the Commission presented its communication "Facing the challenge of the safety of offshore oil and gas activities". The communication indicated first areas for action at EU level including revision of existing legislation as well as new proposals. 

Building on this communication, in December the Council adopted conclusions on the safety of offshore oil and gas activities setting out a way forward for possible further action in relation to offshore exploration and production of hydrocarbons, notably to ensure the highest possible level of safety and protection of the environment as well as provisions for liability.