Offshore drilling in the Mediterranean

26.8.2014

Question for written answer P-006372-14
to the Commission
Rule 130
Ignazio Corrao (EFDD)

In a world system geared towards the increasing use of renewable energy sources, it is unthinkable that the EU Member States, working to achieve ambitious targets such as those of the 2020 Climate and Energy Package, should not be focusing their entire attention on ‘green’ solutions. Mediterranean countries are already paying an excessively high price due to environmental legislation which has absolutely no regard for the protection of the coasts. Focusing on crude oil rather than on promoting and improving the coasts is an attack on the dignity of EU citizens.

We need to move towards different energy systems consisting of environmentally clean systems which respect the health of the land and citizens.

1. Can the Commission therefore say what action it intends to take to curb the devastating impact that the proliferation of extraction activities is having?

2. What monitoring tools does the EU intend to put in place to protect marine ecosystems?