MEPs reject ship recycling levy
The European Parliament has narrowly voted down proposals for a recycling fund for old ship paid for with a levy on industry.
The “recycling levy” would have been imposed on all ships using EU ports, but it was rejected by 299 votes to 292.
Instead, MEPs adopted an amendment calling on the European Commission to present, before the end of 2015, a legislative proposal for an incentive-based system that would facilitate safe and sound ship recycling.
The
UK Chamber of Shippingsaid the levy “would have deterred uptake of the truly international Hong Kong Convention, designed to improve standards for workers and the environment in recycling facilities globally”.
Mark Brownrigg, the
Chamber’s Director-General, said:
“Without the ratification of the Hong Kong Convention, the poor standards encountered in some facilities around the world would be perpetuated and a levy also had the potential to harm European trade, as well as driving more transport onto the continent's roads with consequent rises in traffic and greenhouse gas emissions.
“The proposals took the form of suggested amendments by the European Parliament's Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee, which had not sought the advice of its peers in shipping and ports, to the positive work already being carried out by the European Commission which is largely supportive of the Hong Kong Convention.
“Following the defeat of the most harmful part of these amendments in the form of the levy, the
UK Chamber of Shippingurges and looks forward to swift ratification of the Hong Kong Convention by EU member states, and alignment of the EU with that international approach.”
The levy was proposed by Swedish Green Party MEP Carl Schlyter.
He said it is “very frustrating that a narrow majority succumbed to highly misleading lobbying by the maritime sector, seeking to shirk its responsibilities, and voted down the proposed financial mechanism that would have made safe ship recycling competitive”.
The European Commission will now consider how best to reduce the adverse effects of careless scrapping of ships outside Europe - most often in South-East Asia - in ecologically unsafe and unsanitary conditions.
