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Parliamentary question - E-009926/2013Parliamentary question
E-009926/2013

Combating the dumping of oil in the Mediterranean Sea

Question for written answer E-009926-13
to the Commission
Rule 117
François Alfonsi (Verts/ALE) , Michèle Rivasi (Verts/ALE)

In the late afternoon of Monday 2 September 2013, the west coast of Corsica, including the Scandola reserve, a Unesco World Heritage Site, was put in danger by an as yet unidentified ship dumping oil. An oil slick over 40 km long could have caused an environmental disaster. As luck would have it, the weather averted such a disaster.

Nonetheless, questions need to be asked about the failings that led to this situation. Every year, nearly 1.5 million tonnes of hydrocarbons are dumped into the Mediterranean, which is the equivalent of 20 oil spills.

It is common knowledge that Mediterranean ports do not have enough approved infrastructure for ships to dump oil legally. Should the EU not take action to rectify this situation?

Rapid-response satellite systems are in place to trace those responsible for pollution. How effective, then, is the CleanSeaNet system, which was rolled out in 2007 with the aim of detecting marine pollution in order to prevent illegal dumping by certain shipowners? Were the French authorities notified within half an hour, as provided for by that system? Has the ship responsible been identified, as should be possible? Does the Commission think that this monitoring system is effective or does it plan to make it more effective? If so, how?

In view of the low level of compliance with rules on oil dumping, what does the Commission plan to do to strengthen current legislation? What does it plan to do subsequently to check such legislation is being implemented?

OJ C 179, 12/06/2014