Shipbreaking and WEEE regulations on EU summit agenda

Archiv – Europe | The European Union is to hold its first ever summit on environment in Luxembourg on Oct. 22. Three different topics are on the agenda: an EU position on a comprehensive post-2012 climate change agreement, better ship dismantling, and the eco-efficiency, said the Commission in a news release.
A joint debate will be held on the proposed recast of two Directives: the Directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and the Directive on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS). Europe | The European Union is to hold its first ever summit on environment in Luxembourg on Oct. 22. Three different topics are on the agenda: an EU position on a comprehensive post-2012 climate change agreement, better ship dismantling, and the eco-efficiency, said the Commission in a news release.
A joint debate will be held on the proposed recast of two Directives: the Directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and the Directive on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS).
EU environment ministers meeting in Luxembourg will not call for the early implementation of an international convention on ship dismantling nor agree measures for going beyond it, according to ENDS news service.
These two options were part of a European Commission consultation on stricter ship dismantling rules, based on an EU strategy published last autumn. The commission proposed a global fund for clean ship dismantling financed by ship owners. It also said government vessels should comply with scrapping requirements.
These proposals were initially included in draft council conclusions for next week’s meeting but have since been removed, an EU source said. Government officials have also scrapped a reference to early implementation, ENDS understands. There is no explicit call for a ban on “beaching” ships for dismantling on tidal flats.
Big shipping nations such as Malta and Greece are leading opposition to ambitious council conclusions. Other countries are also dragging their feet because big recycling states such as India are threatening not to ratify the IMO convention if the EU pushes too hard, especially on beaching.
The UK and Germany oppose the idea of a dismantling fund while Belgium, France, Spain and the Netherlands support it, ENDS understands. The European Parliament adopted its position on ship dismantling in a non-legislative report voted last year.