VEOLIA ENVIRONNEMENT

BRUSSELS – Thursday 9
November 2006 - EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

The European Parliament will hold the 3rd Parliamentary symposium
on Maritime Europe in Brussels on
Thursday 9 November.

The symposium will be chaired by Bernard POIGNANT, Member of the European
Parliament, and Luis QUEIRO, Vice-Chairman of the European Parliament Committee
on Transport & Tourism.

Jacques BARROT, Vice-Chairman of the European Commission in charge of Transport,
will introduce the symposium and Joe Borg, Commissioner responsible for Fisheries
and Maritime Affairs, will close proceedings.

Maritime safety: a priority for the European Union

The European Union has made maritime safety a priority. With its enlargement
to 25 Member States, in particular with the inclusion of Malta and Cyprus ,
the European Union has become a major maritime power. Having accounted for 16%
of the world fleet with 15 Member States, since its enlargement, the European
Union now makes up 25% of the world fleet. This percentage is even higher taking
into account the proportion of the world fleet made up of European operators
regardless of their flag, with European interests for the Europe of 25 accounting
for 37% of global tonnage.

Despite the strong performance of the European flag, it cannot be ignored
that quality should still be improved through strict regulations.

Since the Erika incident in 1999, Ievoli Sun and Prestige, directives have
been passed to improve ship safety and protect the maritime environment.

More rigorous port inspections, a ban on single hull tankers, the establishment
of a Community monitoring, inspection and safety system for maritime traffic,
the establishment of a compensation fund for oil pollution damage and the setting
up of a European Maritime Safety Agency are some of the core measures taken.

In November 2005, the Commission presented the third maritime
safety package consisting of seven proposals structured around
two major themes: improving accident and pollution prevention and dealing
with the aftermath of accidents.

A proposal relating to state port control was presented to the Transport Council
by the Presidency on 8 and 9 June 2006 and partly accepted.

Although the proposal concerning the monitoring of maritime traffic has been
the subject of a general approach by the Council, it is still contested by certain
delegations.

The Commission and the Member States disagree on the issue of places of refuge:
the Commission rejects the compromise proposed by the Presidency and supported
by the Member States (abandonment of the notion of the independent status of
the relevant authority and rejection of the obligation to receive ships in distress).

The second point of disagreement between the Member States is the issue of
whether or not to install the Automatic Identification System (AIS) in fishing
vessels depending on ship size.

Finland reportedly wants to reach a political agreement at the Council meeting
in December on the proposed state port control directive and the proposed regulation
concerning passenger compensation in the event of maritime accidents.

European port policy: an ongoing discussion

While the European Union has developed a clear policy in terms of
maritime transport, based on improving safety and opening up markets, the issue
of port control is still under discussion.

As the world's leading maritime power, the European Union believes that its
ports play a key role in establishing Europe 's competitiveness against the
backdrop of internationalisation.

For a Europe focused on exports ,
the socio-economic and strategic importance of the sectors related to maritime
transport is vital in maintaining the competitiveness of these areas.

Maritime transport accounts for 90% of the European Union's external trade
and 40% of internal trade. The European Union, which represents 40% of the world
fleet, is undisputed leader in this sector.

Each year, 3.5 billion tonnes of freight and 350 million passengers pass through
Europe 's ports.

Around 350,000 people are employed in ports and related services, which together
generate added value of around €20 billion. Maritime transport plays a
driving role for shipbuilding and marine equipment, not to mention related services
such as insurance, banking, brokerage, classification and consultancy.

An initial proposal for a directive was presented by the Council but declined
by the Parliament.

At the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) annual conference in Stockholm
in June, Vice-Chairman Jacques Barrot announced the launch of a consultation
process on the port sector. A statement on the development of the sector will
be drawn up on the basis of this consultation in the form of a Communication.

Economic and environmental factors: the creation of a system for
the dismantling of vessels at the end of their life

Over 700 commercial vessels are destroyed worldwide every year, the majority
of which are in Asia. This figure is expected to double by 2008 as a result
of the ban on single hull tankers.

In Europe and therefore in France , no shipbuilders currently have the capacity
to dismantle large commercial or cruise vessels, as well as warships such as
the former Clémenceau.

The organisation of a pan-European system is therefore likely to take time
in order to ensure sustainable development and protect the interests of workers
and the environment.

The Symposium on 9 November will look at the issue of Europe 's
future maritime policy through three round table discussions on safety,
European port competitiveness and the dismantling of maritime vessels.

1. At 9.20am, Luis QUEIRO, Vice-Chairman
   of the European Parliament Committee on Transport & Tourism, will chair
   and lead the following discussion:
   
   ?Improving maritime safety
   from a national scale to a global scale?
   
   
   
   • The consequences of Erika 1 and 2 and the aims of the ?Erika
     3? package
   
   
   • European Union-Member States: the rate of integration
   
   
   • European Union-IMO: competition or complementarity?
   
   
   • Further improving the safety of maritime transport
     
     
   
   
   
   


2. At 11.30am, Dirk STERCKX, Member of the European Parliament and
   Chairman of the Maritime Affairs Subgroup of the Intergroup on Sustainable
   Development, will chair and lead the following discussion:
   
   ?Advances
   required to maintain the competitiveness of European ports?
   
   
   
   • Lessons from the rejection of the proposed port services
     directive
   
   
   • Government aid for port investment: disloyal competition?
   
   
   • Unresolved labour issues
   
   
   • Heading for greater intermodality?
     
     
   
   
   
   


3. At 2.30pm, Bernard POIGNANT, Member of the European Parliament, will
   chair and lead the following discussion:
   
   ?Ship dismantling: heading
   for a consistent European policy??
   
   
   
   • The Clémenceau: a case study
   
   
   • Protection of the marine environment
   
   
   • Protecting workers from asbestos
   
   
   • The creation of European asbestos decontamination facilities
   
   
   
   

Information

Thursday 9 November from 8.30am at the
European Parliament – Brussels

Rue Wiertz 60 – Bâtiment Altiero Spinelli Salle ASP – A3
G2

Public transport: Line 1A and 1 B – Maalbeek Station

Line 2 – Trône/Troon
Station

For security reasons, please bring your invitation
and identification.

Registration in writing and online before 1
November 2006

AGORA Europe – 3, rue des Caves
du Roi – 92310 Sèvres (France)

www.agoraeurope.com

Press relations

Chantal FARANT – 00 33 (0)1 53 67 35 86

Jeanne QUICQUERO – 00 33 (0) 1 53 67 35 81