European Maritime Safety Agency: response to pollution caused by ships, multiannual funding

PURPOSE : to propose a financial package to the European Maritime Safety Agency with a view to combating pollution caused by ships.

PROPOSED ACT : Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council.

CONTENT : In 2004, EU legislation gave the European Maritime Safety Agency a mandate to combat pollution caused by ships. Carrying out these tasks calls for substantial funding which the Agency must be given on a multiannual basis in order to guarantee its financial security and to make it effective.

Consequently, the Commission is proposing a financial package of EUR 154 million over a period of seven years for the European Maritime Safety Agency to allow it to combat pollution caused by ships. The EU funding for the Agency should cover the period corresponding to that of the new financial perspective (2007-2013). The funds are intended to strengthen the capability of the Member States to respond to pollution caused by oil and other substances using specialised anti-pollution vessels. Member States affected by oil slicks with which they cannot deal themselves will be able to call on the Agency to increase their capability for dealing with pollution by using additional resources for the recovery of oil at sea. This system of “reserve vessels” which the Agency will place at the disposal of Member States affected will have equipment for recovering pollutants from the sea.

These resources will also help in the development of satellite imaging to enable pollution to be detected in good time and will underpin efforts by the Member States to prevent illegal discharges and accidental spillages of oil.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS :

- Budget line : 06020203: European Maritime Safety Agency- Anti-pollution measures.

- Total financial reference amount : EUR 154 million for the period 2007-2013.

- Operational objective 1: operational assistance:

- action 1: Baltic Sea : EUR 33 million;

- action 2: Mediterranean Sea: EUR 38 million;

- action 3: Atlantic Coast: EUR 51 million;

- action 4: Black Sea: EUR 13,5 million;

- action 5: Satellite Imagery: EUR 7 million.

- Operational objectives 2: Information, cooperation and coordination: EUR 11 million.

As regards the operational assistance, it should be noted that the figures used for estimating the budget of the multiannual programme for oil pollution response are based on the activities deployed in 2005 and 2006. Although the multiannual programme is due to begin as of 2007, the activities for 2005 and 2006 are directly relevant because contracts will still be valid and will need to be renewed during the period covered by the multiannual programme.