The European Commission has found amendments to an existing
Finnish scheme supporting investment in cleaner ships to be in line with EU state aid rules. In particular, the amendments aim at giving
ship-owners incentives to use less polluting fuel, ahead of the entry
into force of EU standards to that effect.Joaquín Almunia, Commission Vice President in charge of competition policy, said: “This Finnish scheme demonstrates how the current state aid rules can
be used for encouraging the maritime industry to adapt to stricter
environmental rules ahead of their entry into force”.The Commission authorised the initial Finnish scheme in 2011. In
2012, the Commission adopted a new Sulphur Directive. The amendments
notified by the Finnish authorities aim at adapting the existing scheme
to the more stringent rules on sulphur limits in marine fuel that will
apply as from 1 January 2015 in the Sulphur Emission Control Area (SECA) which includes the English Channel, the North Sea and the Baltic Sea.In particular, the amendments allow, under certain conditions, to
finance the acquisition of new ships or the adaptation of old ships,
provided they operate under stricter environmental standards than
currently in force in the EU. The aid provides a real incentive and is
necessary to achieve the intended objective: it will result in bringing
forward by up to two years the use of less polluting fuel in ships. No
aid will be granted after the entry into force of the new standards. It
is therefore in line with the EU Guidelines on State aid for
environmental protection.
IMO&EU NEWS
24 January 2013 - 22:09
EU Commission Supports Investment in Cleaner Ships
The European Commission has found amendments to an existing Finnish scheme supporting investment in cleaner ships to be in line with EU state aid rules.
IMO&EU NEWS
24 January 2013 - 22:09
This news 6374 hits received.
These news may also interest you