EU News

EU News

Sulphur
Concerns over new low-sulphur fuel limits in the North Sea and Baltic Sea have been raised in the European parliament. Switching to low-sulphur distillates will lead to more greenhouse gas, according to Swedish Euro MP Olle Schmidt. Vessels within the emissions control areas will have to use “much more expensive distillates”. This would lead to a shift in traffic from sea to road, he claimed. “The production of these also leads to the combustion of more carbon dioxide and thus an increase in the emission of greenhouse gases,” the MEP said. The measure was agreed by EU member states in IMO, not by the EU (which is not an IMO member) and can therefore only be undone using the same political process, Brussels officials say. The IMO rule change was reportedly agreed without an impact assessment.

Passenger Rights
The European Parliament wants to increase the percentage of Europe’s ferry fleet covered by a new passenger rights law. Exclusions to the law put forward by national governments go too far, says the Euro MP coordinating the parliament’s position. All ships carrying more than 12 passengers should by covered by Brussels legislation, says Spanish MEP Ines Ayala Sender. EU governments want only ferries carrying more than 36 passengers included within the scope of the law. Ms. Ayala Sender, however, did agree to exclude sightseeing trips and river crossing of less than 500 m from the scope. The EU regulation lays down rules for providing passengers with accommodation, refreshments or alternative routes in cases of denied boarding. Mediterranean countries with large fleets of small ferries, especially Greece, are not happy with the proposal but do not have enough support to block it.