Transportation Press Releases
IMO Secretary-General Mitropoulos and European Commissioner for Environment Dimas Converge on Response to Current Environmental Challenges—04/30/07
IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos and Mr. Stavros Dimas, European Commissioner for Environment, concluded a productive meeting in Brussels, on April 27.
As part of the IMO's activities to promote the theme of this year's World Maritime Day, which is "IMO's response to current environmental challenges," Mr. Mitropoulos visited the European Commission for discussions with Mr. Dimas on several ongoing initiatives aimed at strengthening further the global standards put in place by IMO to protect the marine and atmospheric environments from shipping operations. He was accompanied by Mr. Miguel Palomares, Director, Marine Environment Division and Mr. Jo Espinoza-Ferrey, Head, Policy and Planning Unit, Office of the Secretary-General.
Mr. Mitropoulos and Commissioner Dimas discussed regulatory developments at IMO concerning the reduction of emissions from ships, including sulphur oxide (SOx), nitrogen oxide (NOx), volatile organic compounds, particulate matter and greenhouse gases; ship recycling; and the desire for all European Union (EU) members to ratify the environmental conventions adopted by IMO.
There was a convergence of views on all points discussed and agreement on a common approach towards seeking and ensuring global solutions, within the timetable agreed by IMO, to the issues of gas emissions and the recycling of ships. In this regard, Mr. Dimas endorsed the need for the commissioning of a scientific study to assist in ensuring a comprehensive approach to the development of robust standards on gas emissions - as proposed by Mr. Mitropoulos to IMO's Sub-Committee on Bulk Liquids and Gases (which met April 16 to 20 ) - and said that the Commission would support the proposal in the Marine Environment Protection Committee, which is scheduled to meet in July 2007.
Mr. Mitropoulos requested Mr. Dimas to assist in the earliest possible ratification, by EU members, of the environment-related IMO instruments, which have not yet entered into force (i.e. AFS 2001, Bunkers 2001, BWM 2004, HNS 1996 ) or which, although already in force, have not yet been accepted by all EU States (i.e. MARPOL Annex VI ). Mr. Dimas agreed on the need for the EU members to show leadership in this regard and stated that he and the Environment Directorate-General would make every effort to assist in this endeavour, while also following closely, and contributing to, the successful development, adoption and early acceptance of IMO's other emerging global standards for environmental protection.
