Brussels, 12/06/2003 (Agence Europe) - Endorsing the report by Dutch Green Alexander de Roo on the draft directive concerning the sulphur content of shipping fuel (first reading, codecision) last week in Strasbourg, the European Parliament considerably changed the Commission's text, setting tighter maximum sulphur levels for shipping fuel from 2008 onwards.
The EP wants Member States to ensure that: 1) from 31 December 2008 onwards, shipping fuel with more than 0.5% sulphur is no longer used by ferries in regular use between EU ports; 2) from 31 December 2010 onwards, that shipping fuel containing more than 1.5% sulphur by weight no longer be used in national waters or exclusive economic zones that are not subject to SOx emissions monitoring; 3) from 31 December 2012 onwards, for shipping fuel containing more than 0.5% sulphur by weight no longer be used in national waters or exclusive economic zones that are not subject to SOx emissions monitoring. Moreover, from 31 December 2008, sufficient quantities of shipping fuel containing no more than 0.5% sulphur by weight must be available in all EU ports.
The EP also wants 50% of the fuel samples taken to be tested (compared with the current level of 25 to 35%) and for deterrent penalties to apply in the whole of the EU to ensure the directive is applied. It wants the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) to be responsible for monitoring the actual application of the directive and for measures from the directive to be adopted by the International Maritime Organisation.