News in English

EU Co-Ordination of Member States at IMO

In April 2013, the European Commission informed Member States of "emerging changes" – a result of adapting to the requirements of the Lisbon Treaty to the EU coordination process and the scope of EU competence issues addressed in the IMO. This masks the fact that, under the changes, EU Member States could now only make reservations on positions taken by the Commission and are prohibited from speaking up individually at the IMO and expressing their own views concerning such positions.

Up to now the EU coordination on IMO issues has been covered by a Commission staff document, issued in 2005, entitled, "Procedural framework for the adoption of Community common positions for IMO related issues and rules governing their expression in the IMO". Several Member States have made many reservations against this non-legislative document.

The official position for future EU coordination still awaits a formal decision by the Council, while a number of important maritime Member States maintain their opposition. The shipping industry's opposition to en bloc EU voting at the IMO, on the grounds that it convolutes the democratic process of the IMO and devalues the maritime expertise of Member States, has been expressed repeatedly.