Monday, 2nd May 2011
Piracy caused by illegal waste dumping in Somali waters
Question for written answer E-001073/2011 to the Commission.
Struan Stevenson MEP:
Although the illegal activity by Somali Pirates has been heavily publicised in the international media, much less is known about the exact cause for the recent rise in piracy around the Horn of Africa.
There has been widespread, yet unsubstantiated speculation that many former Somali fishermen have been forced to involve themselves in Piracy as their former livelihood has been ruined by illegal waste dumping in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden. In 2004, the UNEP reported that many toxic waste containers washed up on the coast of the Puntland region in northeastern Somalia and various observers claim that European companies continue to systematically dump both toxic and e-waste in these waters.
Whilst the EU's 'Atalanta' anti-piracy mission and its support for UN Security Council Resolution 1851 (2008) are laudable, illegal piracy will only be eradicated or lessened if the perpetrators have other legal and sustainable means of securing the necessities of life.
1) In light of the speculation, does the Commission have any credible evidence to substantiate the claims that EU companies are participating in illegal waste dumping in the region?
2) Is the Commission taking any steps to monitor and prevent EU companies breaking international treaties, such as the Basel Convention, by dumping toxic waste in Somali waters?
Answer E-001073/2011 given by Mr Potočnik on behalf of the Commission - 24.3.2011:
The Commission does not currently have any evidence to substantiate the claims that EU companies participate in illegal dumping of waste in Somali waters.
However, in order to fight the illegal trafficking of waste, the Commission is currently assessing the feasibility of strengthening the inspection requirements of Regulation (EC) No 1013/2006 of Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2006 on shipments of waste (OJ L 190, 12.7.2006).
The Commission has also proposed rules to fight the illegal shipments of electronic waste in its recast proposal for the WEEE Directive of 2008*.
*Directive 2002/96/EC of Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 2003 on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) - Joint declaration of Parliament, the Council and the Commission relating to Article 9, OJ L 37, 13.2.2003.
