Broad support for report on European Maritime Policy

23rd February 2010

The Transport committee of the European Parliament expressed broad support for the draft report on the EU maritime policy untill 2018, of MEP Peter van Dalen (Christian Union, ECR-group) yesterday.

Van Dalen said:

"I welcome this broad support because it underlines the importance of European maritime policy.”

Support from all groups was given to Van Dalen's emphasis on maintaining a professional interest for youth on working in the maritime field.

The committee also supported proposals to place an emphasis on making ships more sustainable, so as to create a more healthy environment. Van Dalen suggested that environmentally friendly ships in European ports, should  pay less port fees and would be handled first, a so-called bonus/malus system.

Peter van Dalen received much acclaim for his emphasis on the global component of marine, single far-reaching measures at European level. The rapporteur stressed the need for worldwide cooperation to reach binding agreements e.g. in the field of security.

The Transport committee is expected to approve the final report in March. The treatment in the plenary session of the European Parliament takes place in April.

ENDS

Contact:
Maurits van Stuijvenberg on +31 (0) 6 52 24 44 64