Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-05-15-Speech-2-335"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2001-05-15"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Maritime safety2
dcterms:Language	"nl"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20010515.13.2-335"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2001-05-15-Speech-2-3362
lpv:speaker	lp:Erik Meijer2
lpv:spokenAs	unknown; Socialistische Partij (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 member_of_the_bureau; EUL/NGL (1999-10-13--2004-07-19)3 member; Committee on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3 member; Delegation to the EU-Slovak Republic Joint Parliamentary Committee (1999-09-29--2002-01-14)3 substitute; Temporary committee on human genetics and other new technologies in modern medicine (2000-12-13--2001-11-29)3 substitute; Delegation to the EU-Czech Republic Joint Parliamentary Committee (2000-11-09--2002-01-14)3 substitute; Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3
lpv:translated text	"Mr President, there was a time when European businesses ruled the seven seas in terms of transport. To do this, they used their own ships which were registered in the country in which the owner was based, and mainly employed crew from their own countries. The substances they transported were less harmful than now, and they were little affected by extremely cheap competitors, particularly from the Third World. Furthermore, they could not afford any major scandals affecting public opinion in their own countries. It is precisely in those circumstances that working conditions and safety in shipping were far from ideal. But State governments and trade unions were better equipped than they are at present to monitor the course of events. If businesses wish to withdraw from State intervention, this can best be done in shipping activities partly carried out outside of the territorial waters of States. In those areas, attempts are made to use unsound ships and underpaid crew. These ships are registered in a country other than that of the owners, and that is preferably a country were taxes are low and the level of inspection negligible. Crews are recruited where unemployment is high and wages are low. Many ships are obsolete and neglected, and the chances of waste and cargo ending up in the sea are significant. Safety for the crew is generally minimal, and the environmental risks high. I am, in fact, of the opinion that ships should not be inspected by private classification societies, but rather by the government, in sound coordination with trade union and environmental movements. Until that is the case, it remains crucial to ensure that classification societies are not dependent on those they are meant to monitor, for, without such a guarantee, any form of control would be an empty exercise. I am keen to support proposals which rule out classification societies if they have ties with the ship’s owner and which demand better periodical inspection of these societies. That is a step forward, as is banning single-hulled tankers and refusing access to ships from states sailing under a so-called ‘flag of convenience’."@en1

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