Brussels, 28/09/2010 (Agence Europe) - In a draft resolution, adopted by 46 votes to 8, with 3 abstentions, the European Parliament (EP) environment committee backed the moratorium on deep water oil drilling called for by European Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger while Community rules are put in place on safety and liability in the event of an oil spill (see EUROPE 10166, 10177 and 10182). The draft resolution, submitted by the EPP, S&D, ALDE, Greens/EFA and ECR groups, will be put to the next plenary session, just prior to the Energy Council of 15 October, which will also be called on to make a decision on this issue.
The draft text calls for lessons to be learned from the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, following the explosion in April on board the Deepwater Horizon platform, owned by British oil group BP, so that stringent safety standards are applied in all deep water oil rigs in EU waters. In view of the risks involved in deep water drilling, doubts over how possible accidents will be managed and the consequences of such incidents in the EU, the EP environment committee has called for a moratorium on all new deepwater drilling for oil in EU waters. MEPs also want clarity on the EU's ability to manage an oil spill, guarantees that the polluters will be held legally responsible and that proper compensation will be paid to victims, such as fishermen.
“This vote is a strong signal to the oil drilling and exploration industry. Parliament is calling on the European Commission to ensure that the EU is able to respond rapidly to any incident on oil rigs, particularly in the North Sea, where 500 platforms are currently operating. One week after the well which caused the worst oil spill in US history was finally sealed, this is good news,” said the Greens/EFA in a press release from Sandrine Bélier and Michèle Rivasi (France). (E.H./transl.rt)