9 Amendments of Jens NILSSON related to 2015/2095(INI)
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that under the UNCLOS convention1 and the SOLAS convention2 every state party to the convention requires the master of a ship flying its flag, in so far as he can do so without serious danger to the ship, the crew or the passengers, to render assistance to any person found at sea in danger of being lostin distress at sea and to actively participate in search and rescue operations at sea; stresses that rescuing a person in danger at sea is not only an international obligation but also an ethical duty; __________________ 1 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982, Article 98 ‘Duty to render assistance’ 2 International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, Regulation 33 ‘Distress messages: obligations and procedures’
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines the fact that in the period 1 January until 31 May 2015, in which a total of 47 265 migrants were rescued at sea in the Mediterranean Sea, 13 475 were rescued by merchant vessels; takes note that in these five months, 302 merchant vessels were asked to re-route and change course to assist in rescue operations, of which 104 vessels aeffectively rescued and disembarked migrants and persons entitled to international protection;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises, therefore, that merchant vessels have a significantplay a decisive role in rescue operations both in terms of volume and activity; points out the fact that merchant vessels have not been equipped and their staff have not been trained, despite the measures implemented by ship-owners over the past few months in terms of equipment and procedures, merchant vessels have not been equipped - in particular with enough resources such as basic necessities (food, drinking water, medical care), do not meet the required security standards, and their staff have not been adequately trained - both operationally and psychologically, to make them sufficiently prepared to systematically take part in such large-scale rescue operations;
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Stresses that this situation has led merchant vessels to bear additional costs in the process, and even to risk being financially sanctioned by Member States for transporting third countries nationals without the necessary travel documents; takes note that as a result some merchant vessels have started seeking alternative routes, so as to avoid areas frequented by boats with migrants and persons entitled to international protection, and show reluctance to reveal their position at sea;
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Is concerned that without vessels and their crew being sufficiently prepared for such large-scale rescue operations, the situation will result in accidents in the Mediterranean Sea that might lead to loss of human lives and also entail environmental risks, to a lesser extent, also entail risks in terms of maritime security, in particular as regards the environment;
Amendment 54 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the Commission Communication entitled ‘A European agenda on migration’ (COM (2015)0240) and strongly callss well as its two first sets of implementing measures, presented by the Commission respectively on May 27th and September 9th 2015, and strongly calls on all EU Member States to take their responsibilities and to commit for adequate and immediate measures to be taken at both Member Statesnational and EU level so as to prevent further human miseries in the Mediterranean Sea, and to ensure that international and ethical obligations are fulfilled in accordance with the principles of solidarity and shared responsibility;
Amendment 61 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is deeply concerned about the ongoing migrationrefugee crisis in the Central and Eastern Mediterranean, in particular the humanitarian aspects but also its impact on maritime transport in the Mediterranean Sea by passenger ships, cruise ships and container ships, the safety of the vessels and their crew, and general maritime safety;
Amendment 72 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Urges the Member States, Council and Commission to immediately increase funding for temporary, sufficientambitious and large-scale rescue operations in the Mediterranean, so that the safety and fundamental rights of both the refugees up to the challenge posed by the humanitarian emergency, so that the safety and fundamental rights of migrants and persons entitled to international protection seeking to enter Europe, on the one hand, and the maritime crews working in the Mediterranean waters, on the other hand, can be guaranteed;
Amendment 76 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Is of the opinion that a more long- term approach to search and rescue at sea is also necessary through a genuine and permanent EU Search and Rescue operation, which should be dedicated primarily to saving lives and take on a humanitarian dimension, in full respect of the non-refoulement principle and migrants’ fundamental rights, so that the EU and its Member States stop relying as much as now on merchant vessels to fulfil their international obligations;