Ship-source pollution and introduction of penalties for infringements

The Commission can accept in their entirety the 16 amendments adopted by the Parliament as negotiated during the trialogue meetings in which it fully participated.

The Commission notes that the European Parliament and the Council have not wished to make it mandatory, under this Directive, to establish a system of criminal sanctions for illegal discharges of polluting substances at sea. On this point, the Commission expresses in its statement its regret regarding the ambition levels attained by the future Directive. This apart, the Commission recognises that the result achieved changes neither the aims nor the spirit of its proposal, and it can therefore support it.