The European Commission has announced that it envisages comprehensive EU legislation on oil platforms aimed at ensuring the highest safety standards in the world, following the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 2010.
In a communication publicized on October 13, the institution recommended specific EU legislation on oil platforms, indicating that a formal proposal could be tabled early next year. Such an EU-wide approach is deemed necessary, as the environmental, economic and social damages caused by a possible offshore accident do not know borders, the communication stated.
The European Commission said that the member states should make sure companies have a contingency plan and prove that they have the financial means to provide compensation in the event of an accident.
Oil platform supervision tasks of national authorities should be evaluated by independent experts, the EC said, adding that technical standards should ensure that only control equipment meeting the highest safety standards will be allowed, in particular blow out preventers.
The EU executive body said that oil companies will have to clean up and remedy the damage caused to the environment following an accident, helped by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA).
The European Commission will work for the implementation of existing international conventions and new common initiatives, the communication said.