1. The licence to drill should be linked to possibility of paying costs of any potential environmental damage, says MEPs

    published on Thursday, September 20, 2012 under Environmnet

    Environment Committee in the European Parliament underlined that oil firms must be held liable for the costs of any potential environmental damage - and have the means to pay - or else be denied licences to drill in EU waters. The Committee voted on 19 of September on the new legislation that will set minimum European standards for offshore oil and gas safety, regulating licensing, emergency plans and decommissioning of platforms.

    According to MEPs in the Environment Committee, member state authorities should only grant licences to firms to explore and exploit offshore oil and gas if they have adequate financial security enabling them to pay for full clean up or compensation if there is fallout from their activities, especially for any environmental damage. In April 2012, Council's Presidency and Parliament negotiators reached an informal agreement to combat offshore pollution and piracy.

    The draft offshore oil and gas safety legislation voted on 19 of September by the Environment Committee will set minimum European standards for offshore oil and gas safety, regulating licensing, emergency plans and decommissioning of platforms. Operators will be also obliged to reduce the risk of a major accident to the greatest extent possible.

    MEPs also agreed that the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) should have a beefed-up role, with oversight powers for inspections and the capacity to provide member states with technical and scientific advice, or help in the event of a spill. Moreover, authorities should take into account companies' prior involvement in incidents worldwide - and the transparency and effectiveness of their responses - when granting licenses, said a MEPs' majority within the committee.

Sponsored links

Current news from the European Union: Events, EU Law and EU Institutions activities

  • Go
  • Store

10ders Alerts

Provides SMEs with the most relevant information on public sector contracts. Now you can subscribe to our Tenders Alerts on Government contracts for only 192€/year.

Do not miss opportunities that your competitors might be following. Try it out for FREE during 7 days or if you'd like to know more please phone us:
+32 2 318 03 01

You will receive only relevant tenders to your product or service in the EU country you choose. Want to know more about Tenders Alerts?

Euroalert.net Sponsors

  1. Proyecto WEST-MoS
  2. Gateway S.C.S.

If you want to become a Euroalert.net sponsor email us at ads@euroalert.net.

Euroalert.net in your website

Do you want to display Euroalert.net contents on your organisation's website?

Register at Condelway to get our free EU News widget and our free EU Calls for Proposals widget.

We have subscription options from 30€/month to use Euroalert.net web services technology

Euroalert.net on Twitter

Euroalert.net by email

Every week you can receive a summary of EU information from Euroalert.net by email

Sponsored links

10ders Product Report

10ders Observatory brings you for only 35€ your customized Product Report with all this useful information:

  • How many contracts and for what value are awarded every year
  • The list of the companies wining the contracts
  • Authorities that are purchasing your product
  • The list of announced and awarded contracts

You are the one who knows the best how to analyse and get the most from this information, and 10ders Observatory can provide you the data big companies are using. Aren't you Trying?

Specially tailored to your product or service in the EU country you choose. Want to know more about Product Reports?

Sponsored links