IMO SHOULD HAVE REGULATORY ROLE, EU COUNCIL PRESIDENT SAYS

IMO SHOULD HAVE REGULATORY ROLE, EU COUNCIL PRESIDENT SAYS       Yiorgos 'George' Anomeritis, president of the European Union Maritime Transport Ministers’ Council, has said that “any regulatory action affecting international shipping from the marine safety and pollution prevention and control points of view should be taken at IMO,” according to a statement released Monday by the International Maritime Organization.
   Anomeritis made his remark after meeting William O’Neil, secretary-general of IMO, on Saturday in Piraeus, Greece.
   Although expressing his own viewpoint, Anomeritis said he would consult with other EU ministers and a decision will be made “as soon as possible.”
   In return for the EU submitting maritime proposals to the IMO, O’Neil promised the IMO would “see that prompt action for their consideration is taken in the most expeditious manner.”
   The IMO is the United Nations Specialized Agency with responsibility for the safety of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships.