Maritime safety agency gets go ahead from parliament committee
The European Parliament's Transport committee has adopted a Commission proposal to set up a European maritime safety agency (EMSA) which will provide technical and scientific support to implement Community legislation. EMSA will also provide support to efforts to stop pollution from ships whilst monitoring the implementation of legislation and evaluating the results of measures in force. The proposal forms part of the second raft of measures put forward by the Commission following the Erika tanker disaster off the French coast in 1999. The recommendation will be considered by the Parliament at its July plenary session.