The European Parliament validated, at its plenary session on Wednesday 10 April, the provisional agreements reached with the EU Council in February on the maritime safety package.
By 613 votes to 3, with 7 abstentions, it approved the revised directive, which aims to simplify and clarify the current regime governing investigations into maritime accidents and extends the scope of application to fishing vessels of less than 15 metres (see EUROPE 13349/6). To read the agreement: https://aeur.eu/f/bpg
By 583 votes to 27, with 12 abstentions, the EU Council approved the revision of the directive to combat maritime pollution, which extends to illegal discharges of noxious substances in the form of packaging, waste water, rubbish and dumped water and residues (see EUROPE 13352/6). To read the agreement: https://aeur.eu/f/bph
Finally, by 593 votes to 3 with 28 abstentions, the European Parliament voted in favour of the agreement on port State control. It also approved the text on compliance with flag State obligations by 590 votes to 20, with 10 abstentions (see EUROPE 13359/13).
To read the agreements: https://aeur.eu/f/bpi; https://aeur.eu/f/bpj
The EU Council validated the first two agreements (see EUROPE 13360/37). (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)