The European Parliament, Commission and Council have reached a controversial agreement setting drastically reduced sulphur content in marine fuels, in line with new International Maritime Organisation (IMO) standards.
The Council announced the endorsement of the compromise proposal agreed between Council and Parliament regarding amending Directive 1999/32/EC as regards the sulphur content of marine fuels, by the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER). The text as it stands now was negotiated in informal "trilogue" meetings between the Council - represented by the Danish presidency - the European Parliament and the European Commission.
In line with the Annex VI of the MARPOL Convention, the limits for the sulphur content of marine fuels used in designated SO2 Emission Control Areas (SECAs) will be 1% until 31 December 2014 and 0.1% as from 1 January 2015. The IMO standard of 0,5 % for sulphur limits outside SECAs will be mandatory in EU waters by 2020. This will also be valid for passenger ships operating outside SECAs to which the current regime of 1,5 % applies until that date. A general cap does not allow the use of marine fuels with a sulphur content of more than 3,5 % by mass within member states territory, with the exception of fuels used by vessels with alternative exhaust gas cleaning systems, the so-called scrubbers, operating in closed mode. According to the compromise, member states should endeavour to ensure the availability of the required marine fuels.
The compromise still needs to be adopted by the European Parliament in Plenary Session on 2 July. After the European Parliament adopts its position on first reading, the directive will be officially adopted by the Council. Member states will have 18 months after the entry into force of the directive to adopt the necessary national provisions.
