15 Amendments of Victor NEGRESCU related to 2015/2352(INI)
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas indigenous sources of oil and gas can contribute significantly to Europe’s existing energy needs and are particularly important for energy security and energythe reduction of oil and gas consumption is an important prerequisite for meeting EU and global climate and environmental objectives and a sustainable dieversitylopment;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas, in accordance with Article 191 of the TFEU, all EU action in this area must be underpinned by a high level of protection based inter alia on the precautionary and sustainability principle;
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas it is of the utmost importance to have effective and adequate compensation mechanisms and claims handling mechanisms for victims of damage caused by offshore oil and gas operations to victims, animals and the environment; moreover, to have sufficient recourses in order to restore the important ecosystems;
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the adoption of the OSD as affshore Safety Directive 2013/30/EU (OSD) which compliments the Environmental Liability Directive 2004/35/EC (ELD) and the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive 2011/92/EU (IEA), as well as the ratification of the Offshore Protocol of the Barcelona Convention by the Council, as first steps for the protection of the environment and the safety of workers; calls on those Member States which have not yet transposed ithe aforementioned directives into their national laws to do so as soon as possible;
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that the effective application of the polluter pays principle to offshore oil and gas operations should extend not only to the costs of preventing and remedying environmental damage – as currently achieved via the OSD and ELD – but also to the costs of remedying traditional damage claims, in line with the precautionary principle and the principle of sustainable development; recommends that abuses or incidents that come about following activities carried out by companies should be quantitatively and qualitatively assessed, in such a way as to cover all the secondary effects for communities;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Underlines the need to ensure rapid, effective, comprehensive and adequate compensation for all victims of pollution and any environmental damage caused by offshore accidents in accordance with the polluter pays principle: therefore, calls on the Commission to consider the establishment of a legislative compensation mechanism for offshore accidents, along the lines of the one provided for in the Petroleum Activities Act in Norway, at least for sectors that may be severely affected, like fisheries and coastal tourism and other sectors of the blue economy;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Regrets, in this context, that the OSD does not deal withaim to harmonise the minimum liability for civil damage to either natural or legal persons, be it bodilyphysical injury, property damage or economic loss that may result from offshore operations;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses, in this perspective, that compensatory and remedial claims for traditional damage are further obstructed by civil procedure rules on time limitations, financial costs, non-availability of public interest litigation and mass tort claims, and provisions on evidence, which differ considerably from one Member State to another; calls therefore for the establishment of strict civil liability rules for offshore accidents;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Highlights that compensatory regimes must be able to address transboundary claims effectively and without discrimination between claimants of different EEA countries; recommends that they cover both primary and secondary damage caused in all the affected areas, given that such incidents affect wider areas and may have a long- term impact;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Stresses the need for the Commission to perform regular conformity checks of national legal systems with the relevant liability and compensation provisions in the OSD, including verification of offshore companies’ financial statements, with a view to determining the real financial figures and the profit recorded; recommends creating a common mechanism at European level to deal with incidents and abuses;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Urges the Commission to encourage the Member States to develop financial security instruments concerning compensation for traditional damage claims from offshore oil and gas incidentsincidents linked to general offshore oil and gas activities or to offshore oil and gas transport, including in cases of insolvency; believes that this could limit the externalisation of operators’ liability for accidental pollution to the public purse, which would otherwise be required to bear the compensation costs if the rules remain as they are;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Considers that the introduction of criminal liability at EU level could add a layer of deterrence beyond civil penalties, which could improve protection of the environment and compliance with safety measures; calls on the Commission to prepare and submit to Parliament its first implementation report on the OSD in a timely fashion, and no later than 19 July 2019, in order to allow the latter to revisit the introduction of criminal liability for offshore safety violations leading to offshore accidents based on concrete and systematic data; underlines the importance of including damage to local communities and of making provision for additional penalties in such cases;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Recommends introducing protection mechanisms and a safety perimeter in the event that operations close down;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Invites the Commission, in this context, to continue examining the possibility for an international solution, considering that many oil and gas companies operating in the EU are active across the world and that a global solution would ensure a global level playing field; by strengthening controls on extraction companies outside the European Union’s borders;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Invites the Commission, in this context, to continue examining the possibility for an international solution, global solution, considering that the planet's ecosystem would affect the EU Member States by any accident occurring outside the EU; furthermore considering that many oil and gas companies operating in the EU are active across the world and that a global solution would ensure a global level playing field;