CUS NEWS REPORT FOR WEEK 30 OF 2024

20^th July 2024 – 26^th July 2024

LOCAL NEWS

No news reported.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

1. European Shipping Summit 2025 - Save the date

The European Shipping Summit 2025, will take place between 19-20 March 2025 at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts in Brussels. The two-day event will include engaging stakeholder sessions, networking opportunities, and high-level dialogues featuring European and international policymakers, industry stakeholders, unions and NGOs.

For more details please tab the link below.

2. EU Parliament Committee Chairs are elected

On the 19^th July 2024, the first plenary of the European Parliament decided the composition of the 20 standing committees and four sub committees, which are, among other things, in charge of preparing the legislation for the Plenary.

On Tuesday, 23^rd July 2024, the committees met in Brussels for their inaugural meetings and to elect their leadership (Chair and Vice-Chairs).

The committee chairs, who are elected for a period of two and a half years, coordinate the work of the committees in the Conference of Committee Chairs and oversee the meetings of the committees.

The new leadership of the committees most relevant to the shipping industry is as follows:

Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN):

Chair: Elissavet Vozemberg (EPP, Greece)
1^st Vice Chair: Virginijus Sinkevičius (Greens, Lithuania)
2nd Vice Chair: Sophia Kircher (EPP, Austria)
3rd Vice Chair: Elena Kountoura (The Left, Greece)
4th Vice Chair: Matteo Ricci (S&D, Italy)

The election of Ms. Elissavet Vozemberg Vryonidi, Greek MEP, as Chair of the TRAN Committee is a major success for Ms. Vozenberg, Greece and Greek Shipping.

“Transport and tourism policies are at the core of European project and a cornerstone of our way of living. I am sure that together we will be able to achieve great results for both, our citizens and businesses,” Ms. Vozemberg said following her election.

Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI):

Chair: Antonio Decaro (S&D, Italy)
1st Vice Chair: Esther Herranz García (EPP, Spain)
2nd Vice Chair: Pietro Fiocchi (ECR, Italy)
3rd Vice Chair: Anja Hazekamp (The Left, Netherlands)
4th Vice Chair: András Tivadar Kulja (EPP, Hungary)

Antonio Decaro, the new chairman of the committee Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), gave an indication of his Committee’s priorities, stating “We must not lose sight of the sense of the extraordinary challenges we face. There is not only the future of our continent at stake, but also a new global approach to the planet resource. The goal of fully achieving the new Green Deal is certainly an ambitious challenge, but not impossible”.

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE):

Chair: Borys Budka (EPP, Poland)
1st Vice Chair: Tsvetelina Penkova (S&D, Bulgaria)
2nd Vice Chair: Elena Donazzan (ECR, Italy)
3rd Vice Chair: Giorgio Gori (S&D, Italy)
4th Vice Chair: Yvan Verougstraete (Renew, Belgium)

Committee on International Trade - INTA

Chair: Bernd Lange (S&D, DE) – re-elected
1st Vice-Chair: Manon Aubry (The Left, FR)
2nd Vice-Chair: Iuliu Winkler (EPP, RO)
3rd Vice-Chair: Karin Karlsbro (Renew, SE)
4th Vice-Chair: Kathleen Van Brempt (S&D, BE)

Committee on Economic Affairs – ECON

Chair: Aurore Lalucq (S&D, FR)
1st Vice-Chair: Damian Boeselager (Greens/EFA, DE)
2nd Vice-Chair: Ludovit Odor (Renew, SK)
3rd Vice-Chair: Ludek Niedermayer (EPP, CZ)
4th Vice-Chair: to be elected at a forthcoming meeting

Committee on Employment and Social Affairs – EMPL

Chair: Li Andersson (The Left, FI)
First Vice-Chair: Johan Danielsson (S&D, SV)
Second Vice-Chair: Jagna Marczułajtis-Walczak (EPP, PL)
Third Vice-Chair: Katrin Langensiepen (Greens/AFE, DE)
4th Vice-Chair: to be elected at a forthcoming meeting

Committee on Legal Affairs – JURI

Chair: Ilhan Kyuchyuk (Renew, BG)
1st Vice-Chair: Marion Walsmann (EPP, DE)
2nd Vice-Chair: Mario Mantovani (ECR, IT)
3rd Vice-Chair: Lara Wolters (S&D, NL)
4th Vice-Chair: Emil Radev (EPP, BG)

Our Union has already reached out to the leadership of the TRAN Committee expressing our hope for a productive and successful cooperation on shipping matters.

Related Articles:

Europarl. Europa 22/07 - Committee Chairs and Vice Chairs elected

Eunews It 23/07 - All committee chairs EU Parliament

Europarl - Committee on Transport and Tourism

GTP 23/07 - European Parliament: Greek MEP Elected to Lead Committee on Transport and Tourism

3. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine: Council renews economic sanctions for a further 6 months

On Monday, 22^nd July 2024, the Council renewed the EU restrictive measures in view of the Russian Federation's continuing actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine for a further 6 months, until 31 January 2025.

The aforementioned EU restrictive measures currently consist of a broad spectrum of sectoral measures, including restrictions on trade, finance, technology and dual-use goods, industry, transport and luxury goods. They also cover: a ban on the import or transfer of seaborne crude oil and certain petroleum products from Russia to the EU, a de-SWIFTing of several Russian banks and the suspension of the broadcasting activities and licenses in the European Union of several Kremlin-backed disinformation outlets. Additionally, specific measures enable the EU to counter sanctions circumvention

Related Articles:

Consilium 22/07 - Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine: Council renews economic sanctions for a further 6 months

Eunews 22/07 - EU sanctions against Russia extended for another six months

4. Cyprus eyes chance to run EU Mediterranean policy

In an interview to Politico on Tuesday 23^rd July 2024, Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides highlighted Cyprus's significant contributions to maritime affairs and other regional issues, positioning a Cypriot candidate as ideal for the role of the person who will take over the Mediterranean portfolio.

The new portfolio, introduced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, will focus on such issues as economic affairs and migration flows.

“We can contribute to matters related to shipping and the Mediterranean," Christodoulides stated. He added that von der Leyen’s decision to create a dedicated Mediterranean portfolio followed lobbying efforts by Cyprus. “It was our encouragement that led the Commission President to see the need for a commissioner dedicated exclusively to this”.

The Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, told POLITICO in a separate interview this week that he also saw value in the role, although he stopped short of saying he wanted a Greek to fill it.

Mr. Mitsotakis, while not completely withdrawing from the game, said he was oriented towards "a portfolio that highlights the progress made by Greece at an economic level, but also the strategic position of Athens on the south-eastern flank of Europe and Nato” and “there are other portfolios (compared to the one on the Mediterranean) that could adapt to this.

In the coming weeks, von der Leyen will assess and appoint candidates for the new Commission. EU governments have been asked to submit names, which will be interviewed before selections are made. Negotiations are ongoing behind closed doors regarding which countries will secure the most influential positions in the revamped Commission.

President Christodoulides is expected to send his proposal for the person who will take over the Mediterranean portfolio soon.

Related Publications:

Politico EU 24/07 - Cyprus eyes chance to run EU Mediterranean policy

Kathimerini 25/07 - Von der Leyen's EU role for Mediterranean attracts Cyprus

Politico 24/07 - Greece must get an important role in the Commission, Prime Minister tells von der Leyen

Agenzianova 25/07 - Greece, Italy eye economic portfolio, Cyprus Mediterranean Policy

Offsite 26/07 - Νίκος Χριστοδουλίδης – Δίνει δύο ονόματα για Επίτροπο της Μεσογείου

5. UK sanctions ships, heads European effort against Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’

At the European Political Community Summit in England on the 18^th July 2024, ahead of Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressing the UK Cabinet on the following day at an extraordinary meeting, United Kingdom announced that it has sanctioned a further 11 of Russia’s shadow fleet tankers and stated it will lead a 45-country coalition to further disrupt the use of “illegitimate vessels”.

Eight of the tankers listed were owned by Russian government-controlled PAO Sovcomflot, including two already sanctioned by either the US or EU27.

Furthermore, UK reiterated its endorsement of IMO Resolution A.1192(33), which urged IMO Member States and all relevant stakeholders to prevent illegal operations in the maritime sector by the “shadow fleet”.

The UK, along with 44 European countries plus the European Union have agreed to work together to tackle the use of illegitimate vessels, which also pose significant security and environmental threats to European waterways.

The ‘shadow fleet’ comprises ships engaged in illegal operations for the purposes of circumventing sanctions, evading compliance with safety or environmental regulations, avoiding insurance costs or engaging in other illegal activities.

According to the UK, Greece and Cyprus are among the countries who endorsed the UK “Call to Arms”.

Related Articles:

Gov Uk 19/07 - The 'shadow fleet': a call to action

Gov Uk 18/07 - UK spearheads crack down on Russia's 'shadow fleet'

Lloydslist 18/07 - UK leads 45-country coalition crackdown on ‘Russia’s shadow fleet’

Safety4Sea 22/07 - UK heads European effort against Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’

6. The 13th update of the European List of Ship Recycling Facilities

On the 16^th July 2024 the 13th update of the European List of ship recycling facilities has been adopted through the Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/1956. On the 17^th July 2024, the decision was published in the EU Official Journal.

According to the Decision:

The facility JATOB ApS has changed name to Jatob Frederikshavn ApS.
Netherlands informed the Commission about a change in the method of recycling for Damen Verolme Rotterdam B.V.
The Commission has received two applications, in accordance with Article 15(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1257/2013, for Dortel Gemi Söküm Demir Celik San. Ve Tic. Ltd. Şti. and Ege Gemi Söküm San Ve Metal San.Tic. A.Ş., ship recycling facilities located in Türkiye, to be included in the European List. The Commission considers that the facilities comply with the requirements set out in Article 13 of that Regulation to conduct ship recycling and to be included in the European List.
Anadolu Gemi Sokum located in Türkiye has demonstrated that it complies with the requirements of the Regulation with respect to the safe and environmentally sound dismantling of floating platforms and included specific procedure in its ship recycling facility plan.

7. Sanctions against terrorism: Council renews the EU Terrorist List and designates a new entity

Οn the 26^th July 2024 the Council added the entity “The Base” to the EU Terrorist List. The Base is an organisation of right-wing extremists involved in terrorist acts, which was founded by Rinaldo Nazzaro in 2018.

Following its listing, the Base is subject to the freezing of its funds and other financial assets or economic resources in EU member states. It is also prohibited for EU operators to make funds and economic resources available to the organisation.

The Council also renewed the list of persons, groups and entities subject to restrictive measures with a view to combatting terrorism, delisting one deceased person and maintaining the rest unchaged.

8. EU updates Schengen Borders Code to recognize seafarers as key workers

In a significant step to strengthen the European Union's border management, the EU Council and the EU Parliament have reached an agreement to update the Schengen Borders Code. This update is designed to enhance coordination within the EU and equip member states with better tools to address challenges at both external and internal borders, particularly during future health emergencies.

The highlight of the agreement is the classification of seafarers as essential workers. BIMCO welcomes this development as it has advocated widely for seafarers to be granted internationally recognised privileges.
This move by the EU, ensures that seafarers are included in the list of exemptions from entry restrictions to the EU in the event of large-scale health emergencies.
The amendments to Regulation (EU) 2016/399 on a Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (the Schengen Borders Code) were published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 20 June 2024 and entered into force on 11 July 2024 - see here for more details: L_202401717EN.000101.fmx.xml (europa.eu)

Related Articles:

Safety4Sea 22/07 - EU updates Schengen Borders Code to recognize seafarers as key workers

BIMCO 18/07 - EU recognise seafarers as essential workers

EU Council - Schengen area: Council adopts update of Schengen Borders Code

9. US TREASURY REPORT

The US Treasury Report for all actions reported is hereby attached.

Related Article:

Attachment 1: US Treasury Report for week 20/07/2024 – 26/07/2024

10. PIRACY REPORT

The Piracy Report for all actions reported is hereby attached.

Related Article:

Attachment 2: Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report, for the period between 26/06/2024 – 24/07/2024