IP/06/882 Port reception facilities for ship-generated waste and cargo residues: Commission sends reasoned opinions to Germany, Estonia and Spain and brings Greece, France, Italy, Finland and Portugal to the Court of Justice

Brussels, Belgium – Port reception facilities for ship-generated waste and cargo residues: Commission sends reasoned opinions to Germany, Estonia and Spain and brings Greece, France, Italy, Finland and Portugal to the Court of Justice.

The Commission has sent reasoned opinions to Germany, Estonia and Spain and decided to lodge a case to the Court of Justice against Greece, France, Italy, Finland and Portugal. The countries have failed to respect EU legislation on the improvement of the availability and use of port reception facilities for ship-generated waste and cargo residues.

The Commission has decided to act against eight Member States for failure to adequately implement a Directive[1] adopted in 2000. The Directive aims at reducing the discharges of ship-generated waste and cargo residues into the sea from ships using ports in the Community by improving the availability and use of the facilities designed to receive and treat such waste and residues, thereby enhancing the protection of the maritime environment.

In all eight cases, Commission action was prompted by the insufficient implementation of the obligation to develop, approve and implement waste reception and handling plans relating to all national ports, including fishing ports and marinas. These plans are a key element in ensuring that port reception facilities made available meet the needs of the ships normally using the ports that their operation does not cause undue delay to ships and that fair, transparent and non-discriminatory fees are applied.

Member States should have established and implemented waste reception and handling plans for all their ports by 27 December 2002.

[1] Directive 2000/59/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2000 on port reception facilities for ship-generated waste and cargo residues (OJ L 332, 28.12.2000, p. 81).