Parliament rejects Prestige probe

Series Title
Series Details Vol.9, No.2, 16.1.03, p4
Publication Date 16/01/2003
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Date: 16/01/03

CALLS for an investigation by the European Parliament into the Prestige oil disaster have been rejected at this week's Strasbourg plenary.

Socialist MEPs had wanted a committee of inquiry set up to look into the sinking of the tanker - but the move was blocked by the European People's Party (EPP) group and the Liberals (ELDR).

The decision was strongly criticised by PES group leader Enrique BarĂ³n Crespo. The Spanish member said: "The sinking of Prestige has become a major European problem ... the EPP and ELDR, therefore, cannot act as if this was merely another political disagreement."

Prestige began leaking on 13 November and sank after breaking apart six days later. Much of its cargo of 77,000 tones of fuel oil contamined Spain's richest fishing grounds.

Calls for an investigation by the European Parliament into the Prestige oil disaster have been rejected.

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