EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

MEMORANDUM TA’ SPJEGAZZJONI

The development and continuation of unsound and unsafe practices of ship dismantling is a matter of serious concern. At the end of their operating life, most of the large commercial sea-going vessels are still dismantled in substandard facilities located in Asia (India, Pakistan and Bangladesh), usually through "beaching" method and with significant environmental and health impacts.

L-iżvilupp u l-kontinwazzjoni ta’ prattiki ta’ żarmar tal-bastimenti li mhumiex adegwati u sikuri huwa kwistjoni ta' tħassib serju. Fl-aħħar tal-ħajja operattiva tagħhom, il-biċċa l-kbira tal-bastimenti tat-tbaħħir kummerċjali kbar għadhom jiżżarmaw f’faċilitajiet substandard fl-Asja (l-Indja, il-Pakistan u l-Bangladexx), ġeneralment permezz tal-metodu fejn il-bastiment jittella’ fuq ix-xatt, u b’impatti ambjentali u fuq is-saħħa sinifkanti.

The situation is expected to worsen since large numbers of ships are expected to be sent for dismantling in the coming years as a result of an overcapacity of the world fleet which is estimated to remain for at least 5 to 10 years. In addition, the coming peak in ship recycling around the phasing-out date for single-hull tankers (2015) is expected to essentially benefit the most sub-standard facilities.

Is-sitwazzjoni mistennija teħżien peress li fis-snin li ġejjin għadd kbir ta’ bastimenti huma mistennija jintbagħtu biex jiġu żarmati b’konsegwenza tal-kapaċità eċċessiva tal-flotta dinjija li mistennija tibqa’ għal mill-inqas ħamsa (5) sa għaxar (10) snin. Barra minn hekk, il-kapaċità massima li mistennija tintlaħaq fir-riċiklaġġ tal-bastimenti madwar id-data tal-eliminazzjoni gradwali tat-tankers b’buq wieħed (2015), probbabilment essenzjalment se tibbenefika mill-iktar faċilitajiet substandard.

The current legislation[1] at international and European levels has proven ineffective to put an end to these ship recycling practices.

Il-leġiżlazzjoni attwali[1] fil-livelli internazzjonali u Ewropej kienet ineffettiva sabiex jinġiebu fi tmiemhom dawn il-prattiki ta’ riċiklaġġ tal-bastimenti.

The current widespread non-compliance is linked:

In-nuqqas ta’ konformità ġenerali attwali hija marbuta ma’:

- with the lack of recycling capacity available within the OECD in particular for the largest commercial ships,

- in-nuqqas ta’ kapaċità tal-riċiklaġġ disponibbli fl-Organizzazzjoni għall-Kooperazzjoni u l-Iżvilupp Ekonomiċi (OECD) b’mod partikolari għall-ikbar bastimenti kummerċjali,

- the fierce and unfair competition between the substandard facilities and other facilities with higher technical standards which are only able to occupy market niches for special types of ships like small ships and government vessels including warships or the fleet of committed shipowners),

- il-kompetizzjoni aggressiva u inġusta bejn il-faċilitajiet substandard u faċilitajiet oħra li għandhom standards tekniċi ogħla li kapaċi biss jokkupaw niċeċ tas-suq għal tipi speċjali ta’ bastimenti (bħal bastimenti żgħar u bastimenti tal-gvern inklużi bastimenti tal-gwerra jew il-flotta ta’ sidien tal-bastimenti impenjati),

- the fact that the current legislation is not adapted to the specificities of ships and international shipping.

- il-fatt li l-leġiżlazzjoni attwali mhijiex adattata għall-ispeċifiċitajiet tal-bastimenti u t-tbaħħir internazzjonali.

In order to improve the situation, Parties to the Basel Convention invited, in 2004, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to develop mandatory requirements for ship recycling[2].

Sabiex itejbu s-sitwazzjoni, il-Partijiet għall-Konvenzjoni ta’ Basel, fl-2004, stiednu lill-Organizzazzjoni Marittima Internazzjonali (IMO) biex tiżviluppa rekwiżiti obbligatorji għar-riċiklaġġ tal-bastimenti[2].

The Hong Kong Convention for the Safe and Sound Recycling of Ships (thereafter refered to as the Hong Kong Convention) was adopted in May 2009 by the International Maritime Organization. It needs to be ratified by a sufficient number of both large flag and recycling states in order to enter into force and start producing effects.

Il-Konvenzjoni Internazzjonali ta’ Hong Kong għar-Riċiklaġġ tal-Bastimenti li jkun Sikur u li Jħares l-Ambjent (iktar ’il quddiem magħrufa bħala l-Konvenzjoni ta’ Hong Kong) kienet adottata f’Mejju 2009 mill-Organizzazzjoni Marittima Internazzjonali. Sabiex tidħol fis-seħħ u tibda tħalli l-effetti, jeħtieġ li l-konvenzjoni tkun irratifikata minn għadd suffiċjenti ta’ stati, kemm stati tal-bandiera kbar kif ukoll stati ta’ riċiklaġġ.

The European Union and its Member States has compared the levels of controls and enforcement provided by the Hong Kong and the Basel Conventions in their entirety. The conclusion reached in April 2010 was that "as a preliminary assessment and taking a life cycle perspective, it can therefore be concluded that the Hong Kong Convention appears to provide a level of control and enforcement at least equivalent to that one provided by the Basel Convention for ships which are waste under the Basel Convention and for ships to which the Hong Kong Convention applies and to ships treated similarly pursuant to article 3(4) of this latter Convention".[3]

L-Unjoni Ewropea u l-Istati Membri tagħha ikkomparaw il-livelli ta’ kontroll u infurzar ipprovduti mill-Konvenzjonijiet ta’ Hong Kong u Basel fit-totalità tagħhom. Il-konklużjoni milħuqa f’April 2010 kienet li ‘bħala valutazzjoni preliminari u bil-perspettiva taċ-ċiklu tal-ħajja, jista’ jkun konkluż li l-Konvenzjoni ta’ Hong Kong tidher li qed tipprovdi livell ta’ kontroll u infurzar għall-inqas ekwivalenti għal dak ipprovdut mill-Konvenzjoni ta’ Basel għall-bastimenti li huma skart skont il-Konvenzjoni ta’ Basel u għall-bastimenti li għalihom tapplika l-Konvenzjoni ta’ Hong Kong u bastimenti trattati b’mod simili skont l-Artikolu 3(4) ta’ din il-Konvenzjoni tal-aħħar’[3].

In October 2011, Parties to the Basel Convention encouraged the ratification of the Hong Kong Convention to enable its entry into force[4].

F’Ottubru 2011, il-Partijiet għall-Konvenzjoni ta’ Basel inkoraġġew li ssir ir-ratifikazzjoni tal-Konvenzjoni ta’ Hong Kong sabiex ikun possibbli d-dħul fis-seħħ tagħha[4].

At European level, the Commission adopted a Green Paper on better ship dismantling in 2007 and a Communication proposing an EU strategy on ship dismantling[5] in 2008. This strategy proposed measures to improve ship dismantling conditions as soon as possible, including in the interim period before the entry into force of the Hong Kong Convention[6]: i.e. preparing the establishment of measures on key elements of the Convention, encouraging voluntary industry action, providing technical assistance and support to developing countries and better enforcing the current legislation.

Fil-livell Ewropew, fl-2007, il-Kummissjoni adottat Green Paper dwar żarmar aħjar tal-bastimenti u Komunikazzjoni li tipproponi Strateġija tal-UE dwar iż-żarmar tal-bastimenti[5] fl-2008. Din l-istrateġija tipproponi miżuri li jtejbu kemm jista’ jkun malajr il-kundizzjonijiet għaż-żarmar tal-bastimenti, inkluż il-perjodu interim qabel id-dħul fis-seħħ tal-Konvenzjoni ta’ Hong Kong[6]. jiġifieri, il-preparazzjoni għall-istabbiliment ta’ miżuri dwar elementi ewlenin tal-Konvenzjoni, li jinkoraġġixxu azzjoni industrijali volontarja, li jipprovdu assistenza teknika u appoġġ għall-pajjiżi li qed jiżvilupaw u li jinfurzaw aħjar il-leġiżlazzjoni attwali.

In its conclusions on the EU strategy on ship recycling, the Council endorsed the Hong Kong Convention, underlining that it represented a major achievement for the international community, provided a comprehensive system of control and enforcement from "cradle to grave" and strongly encouraged Member States to ratify the Convention as a matter of priority so as to facilitate its entry into force as early as possible and to generate a real and effective change on the ground[7].

Fil-konklużjonijiet tiegħu dwar l-istrateġija tal-UE, il-Kunsill approva l-Konvenzjoni ta’ Hong Kong, u enfasizza li din tirrappreżenta suċċess kbir għall-komunità internazzjonali, tipprovdi sistema komprensiva ta’ kontroll u infurzar min-“nieqa sal-qabar” u tħeġġeġ bil-qawwa kollha lill-Istati Membri biex jirratifikaw il-Konvenzjoni bi prijorità biex jiffaċilitaw id-dħul fis-seħħ tagħha malajr kemm jista’ jkun u biex tkun iġġenerata bidla reali u effettiva fuq l-art[7].

2012/0056 (NLE)

2012/0056 (NLE)

Proposal for a

Proposta għal

COUNCIL DECISION

DEĊIŻJONI TAL-KUNSILL

requiring Member States to ratify or to accede to the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009, in the interests of the European Union

li tirrikjedi lill-Istati Membri biex, fl-interessi tal-Unjoni Ewropea, jirratifikaw il-Konvenzjoni Internazzjonali ta’ Hong Kong tal-2009 dwar ir-Riċiklaġġ tal-Bastimenti li jkun Sikur u li Jħares l-Ambjent jew biex jaderixxu magħha

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

IL-KUNSILL TAL-UNJONI EWROPEA,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 192(1), in conjunction with Article 218(6)(a)(v) and the first subparagraph of Article 218(8) thereof,

Wara li kkunsidra t-Trattat dwar il-Funzjonament tal-Unjoni Ewropea, u b’mod partikolari l-Artikolu 192(1), flimkien mal-Artikolu 218(6)(a)(v) u l-ewwel subparagrafu tal-Artikolu 218(8) tiegħu,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Wara li kkunsidra l-proposta tal-Kummissjoni Ewropea,

Having regard to the consent of the European Parliament,

Wara li kkunsidra l-kunsens tal-Parlament Ewropew,

Whereas:

Billi:

(1) Ships which are waste are subject to the Basel Convention on Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal at international level. At European level, these ships are subject to Regulation (EC) No 1013/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2006 on shipment of waste[8]. That Regulation implements the Basel Convention as well as an amendment[9] to the Convention adopted in 1995, which has not yet entered into force, and which establishes a ban on exports of hazardous waste from Union Member States to countries that are not members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Since ships contain hazardous materials, they are generally classified as hazardous waste and are therefore prohibited from being exported for recycling in facilities in countries not members of the OECD.

(1) Bastimenti li huma skart huma suġġetti fil-livell internazzjonali għall-Konvenzjoni ta’ Basel dwar Movimenti Transkonfinali ta’ Skart Perikoluż u r-Rimi tiegħu. Fil-livell Ewropew, dawn il-bastimenti huma suġġetti għar-Regolament KE Nru 1013/2006 tal-Parlament Ewropew u tal-Kunsill tal-14 ta' Ġunju 2006 dwar vjeġġi ta' skart[8]. Ir-Regolament jimplimenta l-Konvenzjoni ta’ Basel kif ukoll emenda[9] għall-Konvenzjoni adottata fl-1995 li għadha ma daħlitx fis-seħħ fil-livell internazzjonali u li tistabbilixxi projbizzjoni fuq esportazzjonijiet ta’ skart perikoluż mill-Istati Membri tal-Unjoni lejn pajjiżi li mhumiex membri tal-Organizzazzjoni għall-Kooperazzjoni u l-Iżvilupp Ekonomiku (OECD). Peress li bastimenti li jġorru materjali perikolużi, ġeneralment huma kklassifikati bħala skart perikoluż u għaldaqstant huma projbiti milli jkunu esportati għar-riċiklaġġ f’faċilitajiet li jinsabu f’pajjiżi li mhumiex membri tal-OECD.

(2) Significant difficulties have been faced at international and European levels when trying to apply the existing legislation to ships.

(2) Kienu affaċċjati diffikultajiet sinifikanti fil-livelli internazzjonali u Ewropej meta kien hemm attentat biex il-leġiżlazzjoni eżistenti tkun applikata għall-bastimenti.

(3) The Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009 (hereinafter 'the Convention') , was adopted on 15 May 2009 under the auspices of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) as a result of the deliberations of the International Conference on the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships[10].

(3) Il-Konvenzjoni Internazzjonali ta’ Hong Kong tal-2009 għar-Riċiklaġġ tal-Bastimenti li jkun Sikur u li Jħares lill-Ambjent (minn hawn ’il quddiem, il-Konvenzjoni), kienet adottata fil-15 ta’ Mejju 2009 taħt l-awspiċi tal-Organizzazzjoni Marittima Internazzjonali (IMO) bħala riżultat tad-deliberazzjonijiet tal-Konferenza Internazzjonali dwar ir-Riċiklaġġ tal-Bastimenti li Jkun Sikur u li Jħares l-Ambjent[10]..

(4) The Convention aims at ensuring that ships, when being dismantled after reaching the end of their operational live, do not pose any unnecessary risks to human health and safety and to the environment. The Convention addresses the issues around ship dismantling in their entirety as well as concerns raised about the working and environmental conditions at many of the ship dismantling locations around the world.

(4) Il-Konvenzjoni għandha l-għan li tiżgura li l-bastimenti, meta jkunu qed jiġu żarmati wara li jilħqu t-tmiem tal-ħajja operattiva tagħhom, ma joħolqux riskji mhux neċessarji għas-saħħa u s-sikurezza tal-bniedem, u għall-ambjent. Il-Konvenzjoni tindirizza l-kwistjonijiet kollha relatati maż-żarmar totali tal-bastiment kif ukoll it-tħassib imqajjem dwar il-kundizzjonijiet tal-impjieg u ambjentali f’ħafna mill-postijiet taż-żarmar tal-bastimenti fid-dinja.

(5) The environmentally sound management of ship dismantling is a priority for the European Union[11] and the early implementation of the Convention is one of the key actions proposed in the Communication of the Commission 'An EU Strategy for better ship dismantling'[12].

(5) Il-ġestjoni ambjentalment soda taż-żarmar tal-bastimenti hija prijorità għall-Unjoni Ewropea[11] u l-implimentazzjoni bikrija ta' din il-Konvenzjoni hija waħda mill-azzjonijiet ewlenin proposti fil-Komunikazzjoni tal-Kummissjoni “Strateġija tal-UE għal żarmar aħjar tal-bastimenti”[12].

(6) However, so far none of the Member States has ratified the Convention or acceded to it and only three Member States have signed it. Ratification of the Convention or accession to it by Member States would carry weight in the international arena and would speed up the entry into force of the Convention.

(6) Madankollu, s’issa l-ebda mill-Istati Membri m’għadu rratifika l-Konvenzjoni jew aderixxa magħha u tliet Stati Membri biss iffirmawha. Ir-ratifika tal-Konvenzjoni mill-Istati Membri jew l-adeżjoni magħha se jkollha importanza fl-arena internazzjonali u tista' tħaffef id-dħul fis-seħħ tal-Konvenzjoni.

(7) Some provisions of the Convention fall within the exclusive competence of the Union as regards ship recycling.

(7) Xi dispożizzjonijiet tal-Konvenzjoni jaqgħu fl-ambitu tal-kompetenza esklużiva tal-Unjoni fir-rigward tar-riċiklaġġ tal-bastimenti.

(8) The Union cannot ratify the Convention, as only States can be parties thereto.

(8) L-Unjoni ma tistax tirratifika l-Konvenzjoni, minħabba li l-Istati biss jistgħu jkunu partijiet għaliha.

(9) The Council should therefore require Member States to ratify the Convention or to accede to it in the interests of the Union,

(9) Għaldaqstant, il-Kunsill għandu jirrikjedi lill-Istati Membri biex jirratifikaw il-Konvenzjoni jew biex jaderixxu magħha fl-interessi tal-Unjoni,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

ADOTTA DIN ID-DEĊIŻJONI:

Article 1

Artikolu 1

Upon the entry into force of Regulation (EU) No XX of the European Parliament and of the Council ( on ship recycling ) to implement the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, ('the Convention'), adopted on 15 May 2009 under the auspices of the International Maritime Organisation, Member States shall ratify the Convention or accede to it for the parts falling under the exclusive competence of the Union.

Bid-dħul fis-seħħ tar-Regolament (UE) Nru XX tal-Parlament Ewropew u tal-Kunsill (dwar ir-riċiklaġġ tal-bastimenti) biex tkun implimentata l-Konvenzjoni Internazzjonali ta’ Hong Kong dwar ir-Riċiklaġġ tal-Bastimenti li Jkun Sikur u li Jħares l-Ambjent (‘il-Konvenzjoni’), adottata fil-15 ta’ Mejju 2009 taħt l-awspiċi tal-Organizzazzjoni Marittima Internazzjonali, l-Istati Membri għandhom jirratifikaw il-Konvenzjoni jew jaderixxu magħha għall-partijiet li jaqgħu taħt il-kompetenza esklussiva tal-Unjoni.

Article 2

Artikolu 2

Member States shall take the necessary steps to deposit their instruments of ratification of the Convention or accession to it with the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation without delay, and in any case no later than three years from the date of entry into force of this Decision.

L-Istati Membri għandhom jieħdu l-passi neċessarji biex jiddepożitaw l-istrumenti tagħhom tar-ratifikazzjoni tal-Konvenzjoni jew l-adeżjoni magħha mas-Segretarju Ġenerali tal-Organizzazzjoni Marittima Internazzjonali mingħajr dewmien, u fi kwalunkwe każ mhux iktar tard minn tliet snin mid-data tad-dħul fis-seħħ ta’ din id-Deċiżjoni.

The progress of the ratification or accession shall be reviewed no later than five years from the date of entry into force of this Decision.

Il-progress tar-ratifikazzjoni jew l-adeżjoni għandu jkun rivedut mhux iktar tard minn ħames snin mid-data tad-dħul fis-seħħ ta’ din id-Deċiżjoni.

Article 3

Artikolu 3

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Din id-Deċiżjoni hija indirizzata lill-Istati Membri.

Done at Brussels,

Magħmula fi Brussel,

For the Council

Għall-Kunsill

The President

Il-President

[1] The Regulation (EC) No 1013/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2006 on shipments of waste at European level and the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal at international level.

[1] Ir-Regolament (KE) Nru 1013/2006 tal-Parlament Ewropew u tal-Kunsill tal-14 ta’ Ġunju 2006 dwar vjeġġi ta' skart fil-livell Ewropew u l-Konvenzjoni ta’ Basel dwar il-Kontroll ta’ Movimenti Transkonfinali ta’ Skart Perikoluż u r-Rimi tiegħu fil-livell internazzjonali.

[2] Decision VII/26 on the Environmentally sound management of ship dismantling adopted during the 7th Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention.

[2] Deċiżjoni VII/26 dwar il-ġestjoni ambjentalment soda taż-żarmar tal-bastimenti adottata matul is-7 Konferenza tal-Partijiet għall-Konvenzjoni ta’ Basel.

[3] Submission from the European Union and its Member States available at http://archive.basel.int/ships/oewg-vii12-comments/comments/eu.doc

[3] Sottomissjoni mill-Unjoni Ewropea u l-Istati Membri tagħa disponibbli fuq http://archive.basel.int/ships/oewg-vii12-comments/comments/eu.doc

[4] Decision X/ AA on the environmentally sound dismantling of ships adopted during the 10th conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention

[4] Deċiżjoni X/AA dwar iż-żarmar ambjentalment sod tal-bastimenti adottata matul l-10 Konferenza tal-Partijiet għall-Konvenzjoni ta’ Basel.

[5] Communication COM (2008) 767 final of 19 November 2008 presenting an "EU strategy for better ship dismantling, and its impact assessment in Commission Staff Working Document SEC(2008) 2846

[5] Komunikazzjoni COM(2008) 767 finali tad-19 ta’ Novembru 2008 li tippreżenta “Strateġija tal-UE għal żarmar aħjar tal-bastimenti u valutazzjoni tal-impatt tad-Dokument ta’ Ħidma tal-Persunal tal-Kummissjoni SEC(2008) 2846.

[6] The Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships

[6] Il-Konvenzjoni ta’ Hong Kong għar-Riċiklaġġ Sikur u li Jħares l-Ambjent ta’ Bastimenti

[7] Conclusions adopted by the Council on 21 October 2009 available at http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/envir/110626.pdf .

[7] Konklużjonijiet adottati mill-Kunsill fil-21 ta' Ottubru 2009 disponibbli fuq http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/envir/110626.pdf .

[8] OJ L 190, 12.7.2006, p. 1.

[8] ĠU L 190, 12.7.2006, p.1

[9] Amendment to the Basel Convention ('Ban amendment') adopted by Decision III/1 of the Parties to the Basel Convention.

[9] Emenda għall-Konvenzjoni ta’ Basel (Emenda ta’ projbizzjoni) adottata bid-Deċiżjoni III/1 tal-Partijiet għall-Konvenzjoni ta’ Basel.

[10] Final Act of the Conference (SR/CONF/45).

[10] Att Finali tal-Konferenza (SR/CONF/45).

[11] Council Conclusions of 20 November 2006.

[11] Konklużjonijiet tal-Kunsill tal-20 ta’ Novembru 2006.

[12] COM(2008) 767 final.

[12] COM(2008) 767 finali.