Europe proposes new oil safety standards

The European Commission has called for European legislation to tighten safety rules for offshore oil exploration in the wake of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico but stopped short of imposing a ban on deepwater drilling.

The Commission recommended on the 13 October 2010 new European-wide standards, including criteria for granting drilling permits and controls of rigs, in a bid to ensure best practice across the European Union.

Deutsche Welle, 13.10.10: EU pulls back from oil-drilling moratorium, suggests safeguards instead http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,6110565,00.html

EurActiv, 14.10.10: Brussels climbs down on oil drilling moratorium http://www.euractiv.com/energy/eu-climbs-down-oil-drilling-moratorium-news-498777

ESO: Background information: Norway bans deepwater oil drilling http://www.europeansources.info/record/norway-bans-deepwater-oil-drilling/

European Commission: Press Release: IP/10/1324: Offshore oil drilling: European Commission envisages EU safety rules http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/1324&format=PDF&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

European Commission; DG Energy: Oil: Offshore: Offshore oil & gas platforms standards http://ec.europa.eu/energy/oil/offshore/standards_en.htm

BBC News, 13.10.10: EU to tighten rules for offshore drilling http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11530945

EUObserver, 13.10.10: Oettinger backtracks on oil drilling ban http://euobserver.com/9/31026

EurActiv, 12.10.10: UK sees no need for EU deepwater drilling ban http://www.euractiv.com/climate-environment/uk-sees-need-eu-deepwater-drilli-news-498711

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