Financing system proposed for environmentally sound shipbreaking

The European Parliament's Environment Committee will hold a first exchange of views this week on the proposed Ship Recycling Regulation. A financing system to support safe shipbreaking activities is among the main changes to the European Commission's proposal put forward in a draft report by the rapporteur for this legislative project, Swedish MEP Carl Schlyter (Green Party).

Mr Schlyter wants to introduce the financing system as an incentive to encourage dismantling of ships in facilities operating in an environmentally sound and safe manner, which currently face a competitive disadvantage due to the "extreme externalisation of costs" in the sector.