EU governments discuss maritime pollution, EU/U.S. air agreement

EU governments discuss maritime pollution, EU/U.S. air agreement    The council of transport ministers of the European Union, representing national governments, will discuss today (Oct. 9) the possible introduction of penal sanctions against those found responsible for maritime pollution in Europe, and the outcome of preliminary discussions between the European Commission and the U.S. on a bilateral air transport agreement.
   “The council should reach several policy agreements and general guidelines,” the European Commission said before the meeting.
   Under a proposal made in March by the European Commission, a European directive would punish maritime pollution caused either wilfully or “by serious negligence” with financial or penal sanctions.
   The proposal follows the sinking of the tanker “Prestige” off the Spanish coast in November 2002.
   The EC said that the “controversial issues” of the proposal will be discussed, citing the potential penal sanctions of the directive, the potential introduction of an insurance system to cover fines, and the scope of the directive.
   The council of transport ministers will also discuss a proposal for a regulation on the negotiation and implementation of agreements with third countries concerning air transport services.
   On Oct. 1 and 2, U.S. officials and negotiators of the EC held their first discussions, in Washington, on a U.S./European Union air transport agreement.
   “For the first time, the representatives of the world’s two largest air transport markets, the U.S. and the EU, will be able to discuss directly the opening of their markets and investment rules,” the EC said.
   The EC, which received in June a mandate from EU governments to negotiate jointly on their behalf with the U.S., said that the discussions in Washington were held “in a very pleasant atmosphere,” but provided no further public information on their content prior to the EU council meeting.
   Loyola de Palacio, vice president of the EC, will present the outcome of the talks to the EU council of ministers today.
   The EC wants a future U.S./EU agreement to replace previous agreements between the U.S. and individual EU countries, and treat all EU airlines equally.