The European Commission sent today a reasoned opinion to Estonia for failure to respect EU legislation on better availability and use of port reception facilities for ship-generated waste and cargo residues. The rules on the necessary inspections designed to ensure respect of this legislation were inadequately transposed into Estonian law.
The Commission has decided to act against Estonia for failure to correctly transpose into national law a Directiveadopted in 2000. The Directive aims at reducing discharges of ship-generated waste and cargo residues into the sea from ships using ports in the Community. To this end, it provides for better availability and use of the facilities designed to receive and treat such waste and residues, thereby enhancing the protection of the maritime environment. The Commission's action was prompted by the insufficient transposition by Estonia of the Directive's provisions on ship inspections.