| Series Title | European Voice |
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| Series Details | Vol.10, No.13, 15.4.04 |
| Publication Date | 15/04/2004 |
| Content Type | News |
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Date: 15/04/04 A REPORT to be discussed by MEPs next week calls for the setting up of a European coastguard service to deal with disasters such as the 2002 Prestige oil spill. It states such a body would have EU-wide responsibility for maritime safety and the protection of the environment. The report severely criticises the Spanish government's "disastrous handling" of the Prestige spill, off the coast of Galicia near La Coru-a. It also demands that the Greek captain of the Prestige tanker be allowed to return to his country pending his trial. The ship was allowed to drift out to sea after it initially floundered in gale force winds in November 2002. It broke up after six days, spilling 50,000 tonnes of heavy fuel oil. It killed an estimated 300,000 seabirds, making it one of Europe's worst wildlife disasters. Belgian Liberal MEP Dirk Sterckx, who drafted the report, said that the paper "pulls no punches when it comes to criticizing the Spanish government and recommending improvements to maritime safety". "Towing the Prestige out to sea was clearly a disastrous mistake and we should avoid repeating it at all costs," he said. "Evidence from the Prestige captain flatly contradicts claims by the Spanish authorities that the ship had to be towed out to sea because it was already leaking large amounts of oil. "Governments need to face up to their responsibilities and put ports of refuge in place to deal with vessels in distress. "We are also gravely concerned that 20,000 tonnes of oil from the wreck remain unaccounted for, posing a continuing threat to the Atlantic coast of Europe." The report is expected to be adopted by MEPs at next week's plenary in Strasbourg. On 19 April 2004 MEPs will debate the final conclusions of the European Parliament's Temporary Committee on Improving Safety at Sea, set out in a report prepared by Dirk Sterckx (ELDR, B). The report criticises the Spanish authorities for decisions taken before, during and after the disaster of the oil tanker Prestige, which sank off the Galician coast on 19 November 2002. MEPs in the committee condemn the decision to tow the vessel away from the coast and the Spanish authorities' statement that they would take the same action again. They deplore the fact that the captain of the Prestige is not being allowed to leave Spain pending his trial and they also query the amount of heavy oil still left in Galician waters after the disaster. |
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| Source Link | Link to Main Source http://www.european-voice.com/ |
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| Subject Categories | Environment, Mobility and Transport |
