EC transport council president urges sanctions on polluters

EC transport council president urges sanctions on polluters    Dutch minister Karla Peijs, president-in-office of the European Commission's Transport Council during the six-month Dutch presidency of the European Union, has presented her political agenda to the European Parliament's Committee on Transport.
   Regarding maritime transport in general, Peijs said she wanted to close several files of pending business and see a compromise reached between the EC's Transport Council and the European Parliament during the EU presidency of the Dutch prime minister, J.P. Balkenende.
   High on Peijs's agenda is the imposition of criminal sanctions for pollution sourced from ships. She also wants action taken on previous draft directives concerning port security and the mutual recognition of seafarer certificates by EU member states. Peijs also indicated that short sea shipping was a top Transport Council priority.
   Peijs said the 2004 Maritime Safety package of maritime legislation (better known as the Erika III package) will be released by the European Commission at the end of the Dutch presidency this December. After that, the matter will be dealt with by the next EU presidency, which is Luxembourg's.
   After her remarks, members of the European Parliament said the Dutch presidency's maritime priorities might be too ambitious. If any one item is selected to be pushed strongly, it is likely to be criminal sanctions. Peijs is said to want to bring about a compromise with the parliament so that the criminal sanctions can become law.