Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the review of the implementation of Directive 1999/32/EC related to the Sulphur Content of Certain Liquid Fuels and on further pollutant emission reduction from maritime transport

Author (Corporate)
Series Title
Series Details (2011) 441 final (15.7.11)
Publication Date 15/07/2011
Content Type

Air pollutant emissions from maritime transport increasingly contribute to air quality problems in the EU. Key impacts relate to human health and acidification, and extend beyond the coastal regions. The Thematic Strategy on air pollution from 2005 concluded that sulphur emissions from shipping were forecast to exceed those from all land-based sources in the EU by 2020. Further action is therefore needed to improve human health and the environment.

Considering the international dimension of the shipping industry, the Commission called for action at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to further reduce emissions. This call was echoed by the co-legislators at the time of concluding the latest amendment to the Directive 1999/32/EC on the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels (the Directive) which regulates the quality of marine fuels used in EU sea areas and ports.

This Communication reports on progress made at the IMO since 2005 to reduce emissions of air pollutants, as well as on follow-up actions at the EU-level as proposed by the Commission. The latter also account for certain measures proposed on the basis of the experience gained with the implementation of the Directive since 2005 as called for by the co-legislators.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2011:0441:FIN:EN:PDF
Related Links
EUR-Lex: COM(2011)441: Follow the progress of this document through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2011:441:FIN
European Commission: SEC(2011)1052: Pollutant emission reduction from maritime transport and the sustainable waterborne transport toolbox http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=SEC:2011:1052:FIN:EN:PDF
European Commission: COM(2011)439: Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 1999/32/EC as regards the sulphur content of marine fuels http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2011:0439:FIN:EN:PDF
European Commission: SEC(2011)918: Impact assessment http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=SEC:2011:0918:FIN:EN:PDF
European Commission: SEC(2011)919: Summary of the impact assessment http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=SEC:2011:0919:FIN:EN:PDF

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