Foster (PPE-DE), in writing. Conservative MEPs broadly welcome the proposals to put in place legislation under which those responsible for unlawful oil or chemical discharges from ships can be prosecuted.

The UK already has criminal sanctions in place for unlawful discharges as specified in the MARPOL Convention and, as such, matters relating to criminal law should fall within the competence of the Member State and not the Community.

We do not believe, however, that the introduction of a European Coastguard is either practical or necessary, since it is inconsistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. For this reason we were unable to support amendments calling for the creation of a European Coastguard.