(1)

Action by the Union in the sector of maritime transport should aim to improve maritime safety and to protect the marine environment and human health.

(2)

The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), at its second extraordinary session, taking place from 14 to 17 October 2025 (MEPC/ES.2), is expected to adopt amendments to Annex VI to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) on the designation of the North-East Atlantic as a new Emission Control Area (regulations 13 and 14 and Appendix VII of Annex VI to MARPOL), on the accessibility of the IMO Ship Fuel Oil Consumption Database (IMO DCS) and the review clause of the short-term greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction measure (regulations 20, 25, 27 and 28 of Annex VI to MARPOL), and on the IMO Net-Zero Framework (new chapter 5 of Annex VI to MARPOL).

(3)

Regulations (EU) 2015/757 (1) and (EU) 2023/1805 (2) of the European Parliament and of the Council and Directive (EU) 2023/959 of the European Parliament and of the Council (3) include review clauses which are subject to the adoption of the amendments to MARPOL Annex VI.

(4)

It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf at MEPC/ES.2, as some of the envisaged amendments to MARPOL are capable of decisively influencing the content of Union law, namely Directive (EU) 2016/802 of the European Parliament and of the Council (4), Regulation (EU) 2015/757, Directive (EU) 2023/959 and Regulation (EU) 2023/1805.

(5)

The Union should support the amendments to regulations 13 and 14, and to Appendix VII of Annex VI to MARPOL, because they will contribute to preventing, reducing and controlling air pollutant emissions from ships, in order to achieve related health, environmental and economic benefits.

(6)

The Union should also support the amendments to regulation 27 of Annex VI to MARPOL, because they will further improve the accessibility of IMO DCS.

(7)

The Union should support the amendments to regulations 20, 25, 27 and 28 of Annex VI to MARPOL, because those amendments are consequential to the adoption of the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy and to the finalisation of the review of the short-term measures by the IMO, and allow for further review of those regulations.

(8)

The Union should also support the introduction of the new chapter 5 of Annex VI to MARPOL, because that will contribute to reducing GHG emissions from ships.

(9)

The Union is neither a member of the IMO nor a contracting party to MARPOL. The Council should therefore authorise the Member States to express the position of the Union at MEPC/ES.2.

(10)

The scope of this Decision should be limited to the content of the proposed amendments, to the extent that they are capable of affecting Union common rules and fall under the exclusive competence of the Union. This Decision should not affect the division of competences between the Union and the Member States,

(a)

the amendments to regulations 13 and 14 and Appendix VII of Annex VI to MARPOL concerning the designation of the North-East Atlantic as a new Emission Control Area (ECA),

(b)

the amendments to regulations 20, 25, 27 and 28 of Annex VI of MARPOL concerning the accessibility of the IMO Ship Fuel Oil Consumption Database (IMO DCS), and

(c)

the introduction of the new chapter 5 of Annex VI to MARPOL concerning the IMO Net-Zero Framework,