Press Release: European Commission takes steps to ban substandard oil tankers from European waters

A list of names of substandard ships which would be banned if the new European maritime safety rules had already entered into force was published by the European Commission on 3 December 2002 in an effort to avert further ecological disasters such as the Prestige oil tanker. The European Commission has also proposed, once and for all, the carriage of heavy fuel oil in single-hull oil tankers, and wants the Member States to give their views on this new measure at the next European Council to be held in Copenhagen on 12 and 13 December. In addition to these key aspects of the 'Prestige' Communication, the Commission is formally requesting the Member States to speed up and even implement ahead of schedule the maritime safety measures adopted following the Erika disaster three years ago so as to protect Europe's coasts and citizens against further disasters, in accordance with the commitment given at the Nice European Council in December 2000.