A
new law provisionally agreed between EP negotiators and EU member states to
clean up the scrapping of old EU ships and ensure the materials are recycled in
EU-approved facilities worldwide was backed by Environment Committee MEPs on
Wednesday. It aims to ensure that these ships are not scrapped on the beaches
of third countries, so as to protect workers' health and the environment.
In
future, EU ships will have to be dismantled in ship recycling facilities that
are included in an EU list of those that meet specific requirements and are
certified and regularly inspected.
"This
new legislation finally puts an end to European ships being recklessly scrapped
in developing countries. Currently, most EU ships are sent to South-East Asia
at the end of their lives, where they are scrapped on a beach in conditions
that are unacceptable for human health and cause gross pollution of the
environment" said Carl Schlyter (Greens/EFA, SV), who steered the
legislation through Parliament. The agreement he negotiated with Council was
approved with 58 votes in favour, 5 against and 1 abstention.
"I
want to stress that this is not an attack against India, Bangladesh or Pakistan
- the countries that currently practice beaching - but against the dangerous
and highly-polluting practice of beaching. This regulation incentivizes these
countries to make the necessary investments in proper ship recycling facilities
- above all for the sake of safe and environmentally-sound jobs in their
countries", he added.
In
negotiations on the draft, Parliament strengthened the requirements for ship
recycling facilities to clearly preclude the practice of beaching. Ship
recycling facilities must inter alia operate from built structures, be
designed, constructed and operated in a safe and environmentally sound manner,
contain hazardous materials throughout the recycling process and handle them
and their waste only on impermeable floors with effective drainage. Waste
quantities must be documented, and waste processed in authorised waste
treatment or recycling facilities.
Inventory of hazardous materials and financial instrument
In
addition to EU ships, non-EU ships are included in the scope of the regulation
insofar as they must also carry an inventory of hazardous materials when
calling at ports in the EU.
The
European Commission will have to report on the feasibility of a financial
instrument applicable to all ships calling at EU ports that would facilitate
safe and sound ship recycling and, if appropriate, to present a legislative
proposal within 3 years of the entry into force of the law.
Penalties, request for action and access to justice
Penalties
for non-compliance with the new regulation are to be set by member states. NGOs
are entitled to ask the Commission to take action against breaches of
requirements for ship recycling facilities which are located outside the EU and
have been included in the European list. Member states' courts are required to
interpret, to the fullest extent possible, the procedural rules relating to
access to justice in accordance with the Aarhus Convention.
Next steps
Parliament
will conclude its first reading in a plenary session this autumn.
The
regulation which is likely to enter into force at the start of 2014, will apply
to ships at the earliest 2 years and at the latest 5 years after its entry into
force, the eventual date depending on when the recycling capacity in
ship-recycling facilities on the EU list exceeds a threshold of 2.5 million
light displacement tonnes.
The
provisions on ship recycling facilities will apply from 1 year after the
regulation's entry into force (20 days after publication in the EU Official
Journal).
Source: europarl.
No comments:
Post a Comment