Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-11-18-Speech-2-119"
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"en.20031118.5.2-119"2
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".
Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the recent wave of terrorist attacks even struck at the Union itself. This morning we observed a minute’s silence in memory of the young Italian servicemen who lost their lives, and also in memory of the Iraqi civilians who died. Clearly, no country or sector is risk-free.
It is important to recognise that whether we like it or not, acts of this kind can take place at any time and place, regardless of the motive behind them. The maritime sector is no exception. I would remind you of the case of the cruise liner
. Admittedly, that was back in 1985. Subsequently, however, the oil tanker
suffered a terrorist attack.
The Commission’s proposal aims to facilitate effective and harmonised application of the security measures for ships and port facilities endorsed by Member States of the Union in the context of the International Maritime Organisation. The proposal is intended to establish a common area of maritime security in which the same level of safety is guaranteed for all maritime movements within the European Union.
The proposal is in line with the text adopted by Parliament and the Council concerning security in the civil aviation sector. In both the maritime and the civil aviation sectors, determined action on security by the European Union is bound to prove to our international partners that we take the whole range of issues involved very seriously indeed.
The instruments adopted within the International Maritime Organisation only apply to ships engaged in international trade and to facilities at the ports they use. It is desirable to extend some of the provisions of these instruments to domestic maritime traffic within Europe. This would help to attain the global objective of security for the maritime transport sector. It is therefore essential to ensure that the measures to be applied are in proportion to the possible risks. Priority should be given to passenger transport.
The proposal goes further than some of the provisions adopted by the International Maritime Organisation. It renders mandatory certain provisions that were only classed as recommendations in the IMO agreement. The intention is to guarantee the maximum level of security envisaged and to prevent Member States from arriving at conflicting interpretations. To this end, there is provision for a single national focal point responsible for monitoring security measures for ships and port facilities. There is also provision for an inspection process overseen by the Commission. This will monitor the implementation of national plans adopted within the framework of this regulation.
The proposal also adjusts certain provisions agreed within the framework of the IMO for the benefit of the domestic maritime traffic of Member States. It broadens the scope of application of IMO security measures for passenger ships on domestic routes taking them more than 20 nautical miles away from the coast. Application is extended to include all other passenger ships on domestic routes. Cargo ships will also be covered to a certain extent. There is also provision for adjustment procedures regarding ships providing scheduled services.
I should like to reiterate once again that the IMO is determined that these security measures for maritime traffic shall come into force on 1 July 2004. The main aim of the draft regulation before the House is to ensure Member States of the Union adopt the necessary measures within the agreed time period. This will ensure Member States meet their international commitments. It will also ensure that application of these measures is harmonised across the European Union.
It is essential for everything to be in place by the deadline set. Consequently, I cannot but endorse all action leading to adoption at the earliest possible opportunity without detriment to the content. I realise Parliament and the rapporteur are fully aware of this. Cooperation with the Council has been ongoing for several months now, with a view to ensuring the text is adopted at the earliest opportunity, preferably at first reading. I would therefore like to thank Mrs Miguelez Ramos for her excellent work. Thanks are also due to the whole House for its efforts to reach a swift, effective and efficient solution in the interests of the citizens of the European Union."@en1
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"Achille Lauro"1
"Limburg"1
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