European Maritime Safety Agency: response to pollution caused by ships and to marine pollution caused by oil and gas installations, multiannual funding 2014-2020

The Committee on Transport and Tourism adopted the report by Keith TAYLOR (Greens/EFA, UK) on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on multiannual funding for the action of the European Maritime Safety Agency in the field of response to pollution caused by ships and to marine pollution caused by oil and gas installations.

The committee recommended that the European Parliament’s position adopted at first reading, following the ordinary legislative procedure, should amend the Commission proposal as follows:

Oil and gas installation: the report clarified in the definition that the oil and gas installations should include the facilities used to bring the oil and gas onshore and to onshore oil and gas terminals.

Financial envelope: Members stated that the proposed overall budgetary allocation falls beneath the minimum adequate threshold which would allow the Agency to continue with its current tasks as well as taking on new tasks assigned to it under Regulation No 100/2013. Therefore, it is necessary to allocate more resources to the Agency to take account of this.

Consequently, they proposed an additional EUR 25 million over 7 years (EUR 185 000 in current prices) for the period from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2020 (as opposed to EUR 160 500 000).

Monitoring existing capabilities: in addition to the list of public and private pollution response mechanisms and associated response capabilities in the various regions of the Union, the Agency should draw up a list of requirements that have not been met, specifying the implications thereof.

In accordance with the principle of mutual assistance and in view of the expansion of the Agency’s remit to cover the countries falling under the Union Enlargement policy and the European Neighbourhood Policy, countries bordering on Europe’s sea basins should also facilitate the pooling of information and cooperate in setting up that list.

Mid-term evaluation: the report should clearly indicate the socio-economic, ecological and financial benefits of the Agency's response preparedness relating to pollution caused by ships and marine pollution cased by oil and gas installations.