EP rejects ship recycling levy

Parliament calls for incentive-based system for vessels visiting EU ports
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By Rebecca Gibson |


The European Parliament has rejected the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety’s proposals to introduce a levy on all ships calling at EU ports, which would fund the sustainable recycling of ships.


“We understand the need to create an incentive for shipowners to opt for sustainable recycling, but the side-effects of the levy on the competitiveness of EU ports would have been very negative in terms of traffic evasion, changed ship calling patterns and modal back shift, not to mention the bureaucracy involved with it,” said Patrick Verhoeven, secretary general of European Sea Ports Organisation.

MEPs have approved an amendment which calls upon the European Commission to submit a legislative proposal for an incentive-based system that would facilitate safe ship recycling by 2015.

“By referring the task to create an incentive-based system to the Commission, there will be time to work out an adequate framework which would match the aim of creating sustainable conditions for ship recycling with respect for international rules and the competitiveness of European ports,” added Verhoeven.

Although Parliament’s vote is not the final one, it gave a mandate to open negotiations with Council in order to come to an agreement.

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