The European Parliament adopted a draft non-legislative resolution for more effective and safer maritime transport by 453 votes in favor (92 votes against and 154 abstentions) in plenary session.
This resolution is based on Karima DELLI’s (Verts / ALE, France) report on the future of maritime transport, which was adopted on February 25 by the Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN).
International maritime transport accounts for around 2.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the survey. As a result, it reiterates the European Parliament’s call for a 40% reduction in emissions from the industry by 2030, as well as the inclusion of maritime transport in the European emissions trading scheme, without jeopardizing business competitiveness.
The recently passed non-legislative resolution calls for a carbon-neutral transition by 2050, as well as a reduction in marine transportation pollution, decarbonization of European ports, and the phase-out of heavy fuel oil.
The members of the TRAN committee had expressed their differences on this last issue, with the Verts / ALE party advocating for a complete ban on heavy fuel oil and the other groups advocating for a progressive ban. Similarly, MEPs rejected a proposal in the study to establish a blacklist to bar vessels that do not meet European Union environmental and social requirements from entering European ports.
Finally, despite the fact that about a hundred MEPs tabled an amendment on April 21, insisting that LNG should be viewed as a short-term solution that does not lead to increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the resolution intends to favor LNG while waiting to find new, more virtuous alternatives.
