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A strategy for better ship dismantling practices

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about A strategy for better ship dismantling practices

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These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Transport > Waterborne transport

A strategy for better ship dismantling practices

Many decommissioned European ships end up on the beaches of South Asia where they are dismantled. The absence of environmental protection and safety measures results in a high rate of accidents, health risks and large-scale pollution affecting vast expanses of the coast. The strategy proposed to improve ship dismantling practices includes action aimed at contributing to the implemention of the main elements of an international convention on the recycling of ships which has just been adopted. It also provides for measures aimed at encouraging voluntary action by the maritime transport sector and better application of current Community legislation on waste shipments.

Document or Iniciative

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions of 19 November 2008 – An EU strategy for better ship dismantling [COM(2008) 767 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

Summary

The European Union (EU) strategy gives effect to the 2007 Green Paper on better ship dismantling practices. This strategy should guarantee that ships with a strong link to the Union (in terms of flag or ownership) are dismantled only in safe and environmentally sound facilities, in line with the Hong Kong Convention developed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and adopted on 19 May 2009.

Such a strategy complies with Regulation (EC) No 1013/2006 on waste shipments which transposes the Basel Convention. It thus aims to prevent the export of hazardous end-of-life ships from the EU to developing countries, and to protect human health and the environment during dismantling operations, without creating unnecessary new economic burdens.

Main elements of the strategy proposed by the Commission

The EU strategy proposes a series of measures aimed at improving ship dismantling conditions as soon as possible, in particular during the interim period preceding the entry into force of the new IMO convention. The following measures are envisaged in particular:

start preparations to introduce measures on key elements of the new IMO convention, in particular concerning surveys, certification and the inventory of hazardous materials present on board ships;
encourage voluntary industry action through various measures, such as awards for exemplary “green” recycling activities, the publication of guidelines and a list of “clean” dismantling facilities.
provide technical assistance and support to developing countries for training programmes in safety and the establishment of basic infrastructure for environmental and health protection;
improve the application of current rules on waste shipments by intensifying controls in European ports, enhancing cooperation and exchange of information between European authorities and the establishment of a list of ships ready for scrapping.

The strategy also proposes that the Commission should examine the feasibility of the following measures:

establish auditing and certification of ship recycling facilities worldwide and evaluate how EU ships might be encouraged to use this scheme;
ensure that warships and other government vessels which do not come under the scope of the convention be subject to Community rules for their “clean” dismantling;
establish a mandatory international funding system for “clean” ship dismantling.

Context

The preparation of an EU strategy for environmentally sound ship dismantling practices is one of the elements of the Commission action plan on an integrated maritime policy for the European Union.

This Communication has the aim of encouraging debate and paving the way for the legislative proposal to be presented after the adoption of the Hong Kong Convention in May 2009.

Strategy to improve maritime governance in the Mediterranean

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Strategy to improve maritime governance in the Mediterranean

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Maritime Affairs And Fisheries > Maritime affairs

Strategy to improve maritime governance in the Mediterranean

Document or Iniciative

Communication from the Commission of 11 November 2009 – Towards an Integrated Maritime Policy for better governance in the Mediterranean [COM(2009) 466 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

Summary

The Mediterranean basin faces conflicts concerning the use of space, risks affecting maritime security, the depletion of resources, degradation of the environment and the prejudicial effects of climate change. The solution to these common problems lies in improving governance of maritime affairs. This governance must in particular be able to ensure more sustainable growth for the region.

Promoting integrated maritime governance

In order to meet common challenges, cooperation with non-EU Mediterranean partners should be improved. However, this is not enough. Decision makers must take more account of the links between different maritime activities. They thus laid the foundations for the European Union (EU) Integrated Maritime Policy in October 2007. This new approach to maritime policy encourages them to abandon sectoral actions and promote a comprehensive strategy.

New action should in particular:

encourage stakeholders and administrations to define more comprehensive priorities for maritime affairs;
strengthen cooperation between stakeholders and administrations in all sectors related to the maritime field, throughout the Mediterranean basin;
assist Member States in exchanging best practices by means of the existing Community funds for territorial cooperation;
offer technical assistance under the European Neighbourhood Policy and Partnership Instrument to Mediterranean countries which are not members of the EU. This assistance may allow them to adopt a more integrated approach to maritime affairs;
encourage the ratification and application of the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS);
create a working group dedicated to Integrated Maritime Policy in order to promote dialogue and cooperation with non-EU Mediterranean countries;
intensify multilateral cooperation with all sectors through specific studies and the better application of international and regional agreements governing maritime activities.

Using cross-cutting tools for integrated maritime governance

Since 2007, Integrated Maritime Policy has adopted a number of tools to promote maritime governance. These include:

Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) which leads to better use of marine space. The Commission is to carry out a study and set up a pilot project to apply MSM in the Mediterranean;
Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) which also concerns islands. The Commission is to draw up a (web-based) inventory of best practices in the different maritime basins and disseminate ICZM in the Mediterranean under the EU’s 7^th Framework Programme;
integrated research efforts which the Commission intends to strengthen in line with the European Strategy for Marine and Maritime Research. In particular, it wishes to set up a major cross-thematic research mechanism which is specifically adapted to the Mediterranean basin;
integrated maritime surveillance for a safer Mediterranean. Six coastal Member States are already participating in a pilot project aimed at strengthening cooperation and information exchange between the national authorities responsible for maritime monitoring and surveillance. This will improve the coherency of maritime surveillance throughout the Mediterranean basin.

Strategy to strengthen global governance of seas and oceans

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Strategy to strengthen global governance of seas and oceans

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Maritime Affairs And Fisheries > Maritime affairs

Strategy to strengthen global governance of seas and oceans

Document or Iniciative

Communication from the Commission of 15 October 2009 – Developing the international dimension of the Integrated Maritime Policy of the European Union [COM(2009) 536 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

Summary

In this Communication, the Commission describes its strategy to strengthen its authority in multilateral and bilateral relations in the domain of maritime affairs. This strategy should allow the European Union (EU) to exercise greater influence over international debate on marine issues in order to safeguard its economic and social interests and increase protection of the environment. It should also contribute to sustainable maritime governance at global level.

This strategy covers a number of domains (for example the protection of marine biodiversity, climate change, maritime safety and security, working conditions on board ships and research into the marine environment) which necessitate international and integrated solutions.

European Union strategy

In order to improve global governance of seas and oceans, the EU must in particular:

strengthen its role as a global player through greater and more unified participation in multilateral fora;
promote membership of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) at global level;
establish high-level dialogues on maritime affairs with key partners, ensuring synergies with existing sectoral dialogues in other policy areas;
pursue dialogue on Integrated Maritime Policy (IMP) bilaterally through both European Neighbourhood Policy instruments and multilateral dialogue. Dialogue on IMP may be based on the frameworks put in place at sea-basin-level (e.g. Union for the Mediterranean, Northern Dimension, Black Sea Synergy). It can be supplemented by sharing best practices concerning the implementation of IMP instruments with countries neighbouring the EU and by encouraging these countries to use the instruments;
continue to work on moving oceans and coasts higher up the climate change agenda and provide assistance to developing coastal and island states in this field, in line with the EU development cooperation strategies and initiatives;
continue to support an integrated approach to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity, particularly in areas beyond national jurisdiction, including for the establishment of marine protected areas;
pursue its cooperation with the ILO to encourage decent working conditions in the maritime sector;
pursue its actions to ensure freedom, safety and security of navigation, including actions against piracy;
continue and strengthen cooperation in research activities with third countries in order to enhance participation in large-scale international research programmes and with countries neighbouring the EU in order to define common regional marine research strategies;
ensure coherence between the activities of various organisations, notably in the fisheries, environment and transport fields;
encourage the OECD to develop a structure for exchange of best practices on integrated approaches to maritime affairs;
develop strategies for all relevant shared sea basins.

Context

The EU must pursue its efforts to improve dialogue with its neighbours, at both bilateral and regional level, including by concluding Regional Seas Conventions.

Regional approaches have already been launched for the Arctic, the Baltic, and the Mediterranean. The preparation of similar approaches for other sea basins is now of paramount importance. The EU can thus contribute to extending Integrated Maritime Policy at global level.