Malta holds firm against proposed pollution rules

EU Justice Ministers will once again try to reach a deal today during a meeting in Brussels about new maritime pollution rules.

However, sources close to the European Council told The Times the proposals will be blocked for the second consecutive time by Malta, Greece and Cyprus.

The proposals were originally presented to the Justice and Home Affairs Council during their meeting last month. However, the three Mediterranean countries joined forces in a final vote and blocked the decision.

The proposals are aimed at setting minimum punishments for skippers and shipping companies responsible for oil slicks. Malta, Cyprus and Greece argue that the rules being proposed would penalise their merchant fleets by going further than international agreements applicable to competitors outside the EU.

They want to revise the package to impose a ceiling on the liabilities that shipping companies can face if there is a pollution disaster, in order to make it possible for shippers to get insurance cover.

Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg, who will attend today's Council session, is expected to keep pressing the EU to concede to the alternative proposals presented to the Dutch presidency by the three countries.

Council sources told The Times last night that "during the past weeks, a lot of high-level diplomatic discussions have been held over the issue, however until now the Dutch presidency has not come up with any kind of solution or alternative". This meant the countries' position had remained unchanged.

Dr Borg argues that Malta, which has a very prosperous shipping register, is acting to protect its national and economic interests.

Sources close to the government said Malta's position was purely an economic one and had nothing to do with the environment. The sources said Malta was obviously in favour of having stricter laws against polluters but could not accept that its economic interests be jeopardised.

The stand taken by the three countries has been condemned by Greenpeace.