Statement by the Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Vassilis Kikilias, following the conclusion of the 2nd Extraordinary Session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee of the International Maritime Organization (IMO)
“Shipping needs international rules accepted by all and not punitive mechanisms. Greece, as the greatest power in global shipping, has consistently supported the IMO as the exclusive regulator of shipping rules. It raised its concerns early on about the so-called “zero emissions framework”, proposing significant improvements, so that it responds to the real needs and capabilities of all shipping sectors and to the reality of the global fuel market.
The negotiations that followed were arduous and highlighted serious weaknesses in terms of implementation schedules, the unfair treatment of LNG fuel, and the unjustifiably high sanctions on shipping which, if adopted, would likely cause serious disruptions in global trade and increases in product prices.
The adoption of the final agreement has been postponed for a year, during which time significant negotiations are required among IMO members, incorporating market views with realism and fairness. This is dictated by the need for energy security for both international shipping and global economic growth.
Greece, with its great naval tradition, special know-how and the strongest fleet, will claim an important role in these negotiations for the framework under development.”
