Ship-source pollution and introduction of penalties for infringements

The Commission notes that the Council did not wish to make it mandatory to establish a system of criminal sanctions for illegal discharges of polluting substances at sea. On this point, the Commission expressed in its statement to the Transport Council its regret regarding the ambitions achieved by the common position. This apart, the Commission recognises that the common position changes neither the aims nor the spirit of the proposal, and it can therefore support it. This support is justified more particularly in order to see the co-decision procedure continue and to enable this Directive to be adopted as soon as possible.