The European Commission has approved the “Third maritime safety package”. Its aim is to respond in an organic and legally binding manner to the threats of every type of which the marine environment is too often still the victim, in the wider framework of strategy for the future maritime policy of the EU. Seven maritime safety legislative proposals are contained in the package, subdivided by the Executive into two major categories: “better prevention of accidents and pollution” and “more efficient treatment of the consequences of accidents”. The main innovations of the proposals especially concern the monitoring of maritime traffic, the classification of vessels and liability and compensation for damage in the event of accidents; the latter question is particularly important, also due to the enormous judicial implications of some marine disasters such as the sinking of the oil tankers Erika and Prestige. Further info: http://europa.eu.int/comm/transport/maritime/safety/2005_package_3_en.htm
