Accidental or deliberate marine pollution: hydrocarbons or harmful substances, community framework for cooperation

The European Parliament in its second reading adopted the resolution drafted by Patricia MCKENNA (Green/EFA, Ireland) amending the Council's common position on a Community framework for co-operation in the field of accidental or deliberate marine pollution. The principal amendments are as follows: -the recitals call for regard to the international conventions and/or agreements applicable to European seas and maritime areas, such as the OSPAR Convention, the Barcelona Convention and the Helsinki Convention. -the recitals also call for regard to the Persistent Organic Pollutants Protocol of June 1998 which covers hormone-mimicking substances. -'accidental marine pollution' is defined to include, but not be limited to, all releases of harmful substances into the marine environment, whether civilian or military, either directly on or into the sea, or from the shoreline or river estuaries, or through releases of materials previously dumped at sea. -pursuant to the polluter pays principle, Member States are invited to cooperate to ensure that the principle of economic responsibility is applied and that fines imposed at administrative level in the coastal state which suffers the accidental pollution are recognised. -the Community Information System will additionally relate to sites that have been contaminated by dumped or used munitions.�