92003E0061

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0061/03

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(22 January 2003)

Subject: Visit to Galicia by the President-in-Office of the Council in order to assess at first hand the effects of the Prestige disaster

Is the President-in-Office of the Council thinking of immediately visiting Galicia and the other affected areas in order to experience at first hand the effects of the accident involving the Prestige and so as to ensure that the Council can no longer ignore the disaster?

Reply

(13 May 2003)

The Council devoted a large part of its time to discussing the Prestige affair at its meetings on Fisheries on 28 November 2002, on Transport on 5/6 December 2002 and on Environment on 9 December 2002. The Council was on this occasion extensively briefed about the details of the accident by the Spanish(1), French and Portuguese Ministers and by the Commission, in particular Mrs Wallström who has visited the spot. The Council also availed itself of the Commission communication of 4 December 2002 on improving safety at sea in response to the Prestige accident(2).

As a result, the Council Transport adopted, on 5-6 December 2002, conclusions on Ship's safety and pollution prevention(3). The Council Environment adopted, on 9 December 2002, conclusions on the environmental disaster caused by the accident of the Prestige(4). The Justice and Home Affairs Council of 19 December 2002 adopted a statement on the Protection of the Environment through criminal law

in the context of the Prestige(5). The Council also adopted, on 20 December 2002, a Regulation instituting specific measures to compensate the Spanish fisheries, shellfish industry and aquaculture, affected by the oil spills from the Prestige(6). For its part, the European Council of Copenhagen of December 2002 also expressed its grave concerns(7).

The Council is at present working towards adopting, at its meeting (Environment) on 4 March 2003, conclusions that will react to the Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament Towards a strategy to protect and conserve the marine environment(8). This communication was already discussed at length at the Stakeholders Conference organized by the Presidency and the Commission in Køge (Denmark), on 4-6 December 2002(9).

(1) Doc 14945/02 MAR 147 ENV 719.

(2) Doc 15301/02 MAR 153 ENV 747.

(3) Doc 15626/02 MAR 159 ENV 767.

(4) Doc 15477/02 ENV 757 MAR 157.

(5) See 15691/02 PRESSE 404.

(6) Doc 15836/02 PECHE 257 and 15837/02 PECHE 258.

(7) SN 400/02, Nos 32-34.

(8) Doc 12815/02 ENV 554 MAR 124 PECHE 149.

(9) Doc 1555/02 ENV 764 MAR 158.