Consultation period: 14/07/2011 – 16/09/2011
Directive 2000/59/EC on port reception facilities for ship-generated waste and cargo residues (hereinafter referred to as “the Directive”) transposes into EU legislation the requirements under international instruments, which regulate the conditions for discharges of ships’ waste and residues at sea and the obligation for ports to provide reception facilities (the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 and the Protocol of 1978 hereinafter referred to as “Marpol”). The Directive entered into force on 28 December 2000 and Member States had until 28 December 2002 to implement the provisions.
In addition to the international requirements, the Directive sets out for further obligations, which ensure that ports will provide adequate facilities (such as the waste reception and handling plans), that all ships deliver their waste and residues in ports (through incentives based on a cost recovery system), and that the information from the ship to the ports is flowing appropriately (notification form). The Directive also foresees monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.
Whereas the Directive seemed to have produced positive results since its entry into force, the Commission services have identified a range of potential shortcomings in its implementation, confirming that the current system is not optimal and that not all ship-generated wastes and residues from ships calling at EU ports are actually collected.
In order to further improve the system, the Commission services have initiated a formal review of the Directive and started an impact assessment that should be completed by the end of 2011.
The objectives of the current consultation are twofold. Inputs from stakeholders will be used to ascertain the correct identification of the problems, thus ensuring valid conclusions with regard to the objectives of the impact assessment. Also, the information collected during the stakeholder consultation will help to measure the impacts (environmental, social, economic) of the relevant policy options envisaged, which will help the EU to address the problems in the most suitable manner.
Practical information
The consultation is being launched in an electronic form through the interactive policy-making tool. Interested parties are invited to send their comments, suggestions and replies to the questionnaire to the Commission services between 14/07/2011 and 16/09/2011.
All citizens, organisations, and public authorities interested or involved in port services and maritime transport are welcome to respond to the public consultation. However, it was designed primarily for those who are interested / involved in the reception and handling of ship-generated waste and cargo residues in port reception facilities.
Stakeholders are also encouraged to submit any relevant material (presentations, position papers, studies, data…) that they may deem relevant to the consultation. These contributions may be sent by postal mail or email (see contact details below).
Contributions received in reply to the consultation will be handled by a consultant and used by the Commission services. A summary of the consultation’s results will be published on the Commission’s website. If you do not wish your contribution to be made public, please indicate this in your reply. In that case, your reply will also not be mentioned in future documents that may refer to this consultation.
This is an anonymous survey, and therefore, you are not obliged to give any personal details and the rules on personal data protection apply.
If you are replying on behalf of an organisation, please indicate the exact name of the organisation, the department and the contact email. This information will not be made public or used for any other purpose than to facilitate this survey.
As part of the European Transparency Initiative, organisations are invited to use the Register of interest representatives to provide the European Commission and the public at large with information about their objectives, funding and structures. If you are not registered yet in this register, please visit: http://europa.eu/transparency-register/index_en.htm
Please note that this document has been drafted for information and consultation purposes only. It has not been adopted or in any way approved by the European Commission and should not be regarded as representing the view of the Commission. It does not prejudge, or constitute the announcement of any position on the part of the Commission on the issues covered. The European Commission does not guarantee the accuracy of the information provided, nor does it accept responsibility for any use made thereof.
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