Note:Your browser doesn't correctly display this page because of a bad stylesheets interpretation. This is probably due to an old browser version.

 
[Luxembourg 2005 Presidency of the Council of the European Union]
 Version française        
 

You are here : Home > News > Press Releases > June 2005 > Environment Council: Ship dismantling must avoid social and environmental dumping
Print this page Send this page

Press Release
Environment Council: Ship dismantling must avoid social and environmental dumping

Date of release : 24-06-2005

Policy area : Environment Environment

Event : Environment Council


The Environment Council met in Luxembourg on 24 June 2005, chaired by Lucien Lux, Minister for Environment, and unanimously adopted the conclusions on the dismantling of ships. According to Council President Lucien Lux, "this is a very important issue that has already been discussed on several occasions in the Environment Council. It is an issue that has economic, ecological and human components." The Luxembourg Presidency ultimately succeeded in arriving at a compromise on the draft conclusions based on a Danish initiative. Again according to Lucien Lux, "these conclusions seek to avoid social and environmental dumping caused by the systematic transfer of old and worn ships to countries that do not have the appropriate infrastructure."

The risks of dismantling done without any oversight are well known: This creates hazardous waste, persistent organic pollutants such as PCBs, heavy metals such as mercury and lead, and last but certainly not least, negative environmental and health impacts for local communities.

There are no international provisions on this. The EU therefore wishes to arrive at a legally binding international rule on this issue. In this context, Lucien Lux was satisfied with the increased cooperation of the international bodies (IMO/ILO/Basel Convention). With these conclusions, the EU hopes to send a strong signal to the forthcoming meeting of the International Maritime Organisation in order to ensure the ecologically sustainable management of ships without endangering human health.


Related links



This page was last modified on : 24-06-2005

Top Top