(Finance) – The Council of the EU and the European Parliament have reached a provisional agreement on a revised directive on pollution from ships, as part of the “maritime safety” legislative package.
“The seas and oceans are our common good. These new rules they will put the EU at the forefront when it comes to clean shipping. We have found a compromise that will ensure cleaner seas in Europe while providing a level playing field for a dynamic maritime sector,” commented Paul Van Tigchelt, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister (who holds the rotating presidency of the EU Commission).
The revised Directive incorporates international standards into EU law, ensuring that i responsible for illegal discharges of polluting substances are subject to dissuasive, effective and proportionate sanctions to improve maritime safety and better protect the marine environment from pollution caused by ships.