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Weather in Malta

20.3°C clear sky

clear sky

Time Zones:

New York

Malta

Shanghai

" Serving the world...

...from Malta "

Malta Blocks EU Proposal on Ship Polluting Seas

27 / 10 / 04

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Malta Greece and Cyprus, who together have the largest merchant shipping registers in the European Union, have yesterday blocked an EU proposal to set minimum penalties for ship masters and ship owners/managers responsible for oil spills.

 

This is the first time, since Malta’s entry in the EU, that Malta’s vote has helped to block an EU agreement.  This was possible in view of the fact that the EU has the rule of unanimity on issues of justice and home affairs.  Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg was quoted as saying that Malta had to vote against the proposal in order to protect its economic welfare as this was not in the best interest of the country’s large merchant shipping register.

 

It was reported that Malta, together with Greece and Cyprus, argued that the proposed regulations would penalize their merchant fleets by going beyond the requirements of other international agreements applicable to competitors outside the EU. It was also reported that due to difficulties faced by ship owners to obtain insurance cover, the three countries also put forward a proposal to impose a ceiling on the liability that ship owners can face in the event of a pollution disaster.

Malta Blocks EU Proposal on Ship Polluting Seas

27 / 10 / 04

Share Article on 

Malta Greece and Cyprus, who together have the largest merchant shipping registers in the European Union, have yesterday blocked an EU proposal to set minimum penalties for ship masters and ship owners/managers responsible for oil spills.

 

This is the first time, since Malta’s entry in the EU, that Malta’s vote has helped to block an EU agreement.  This was possible in view of the fact that the EU has the rule of unanimity on issues of justice and home affairs.  Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg was quoted as saying that Malta had to vote against the proposal in order to protect its economic welfare as this was not in the best interest of the country’s large merchant shipping register.

 

It was reported that Malta, together with Greece and Cyprus, argued that the proposed regulations would penalize their merchant fleets by going beyond the requirements of other international agreements applicable to competitors outside the EU. It was also reported that due to difficulties faced by ship owners to obtain insurance cover, the three countries also put forward a proposal to impose a ceiling on the liability that ship owners can face in the event of a pollution disaster.