A oil cleanup volunteer holds a Comoran covered in oil from the sunken Prestige oil tanker on the coast of Galicia, Spain.
Greenpeace today expressed disappointment at the outcome of
today's EU Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Ministers'
Meeting in Brussels, saying ministers failed to agree on strong
measures to protect the world's oceans from the threat of hazardous
and toxic shipments in substandard vessels.
While the EU agreed to ban single hulled vessels transporting
heavy fuel from its ports, it is up to each EU member state to
decide when the ban takes effect..
"The EU has failed to protect the marine environment," said
Simon Caroll, of Greenpeace. "Stronger measures must be put in
place immediately to include a ban on single hull vessels
transporting all hazardous cargo, and to exclude them from
ecologically sensitive marine areas. The whole system of marine
transport needs to changed so that the needs of the environment are
put before those of the shipping industry."
"Greenpeace is demanding full and unlimited liability throughout
the chain of responsibilities, including the owners, managers and
operators of a vessel and of any charterers or owners of the
cargo."
Earlier today, Greenpeace activists simulated an oil spill at EU
Headquarters and using approximately 300 litres of oil waste and
residue brought from the Prestige oil disaster. Activists dressed
as oil-stained birds held signs for the ministers saying Act
Now.
Greenpeace believes that the European Union is once again
responding in crisis mode to an environmental disaster caused by a
shipping accident involving thousands of tonnes of oil. The rules
which were adopted following the Erika disaster were patently
inadequate to prevent yet another accident-even if they had been
fully implemented. The reality today is that the oil from the
Prestige is washing up in increasing amounts on the shores of
Spain, damaging the marine environment and destroying livelihoods
of many who depend on the sea for their living.
"What the EU claims it is going to do is simply not good enough
to prevent another disaster," said Simon Carroll of Greenpeace.
"Again, we see how short-term economic interests prevail over the
protection of the marine environment and the people who depend on
it for their livelihood."
Greenpeace is now focussing its attention to the EU Summit to be
held at the end of next week in Copenhagen. "The EU Heads of State
have the power to stop any other disaster from occurring. They must
radically improve what is currently on the table or they will be
directly responsible for the future disasters that are sure to
come," added Carroll.
VVPR info: John Novis, Greenpeace Picture Editor, ++31 6 53 81 91 21Lucy Clayton, Greenpeace Video Producer, ++ 31 6 53 50 47 21