EMEA News
EU Steps Back from Joint Position on NOx Delay
The European Union (EU) will not take a joint position against pushing nitrogen oxides (NOx) regulations back from 2016 to 2021 when the International Maritime Organisation (IMO)'s environmental committee meets in late March, ShippingWatch reports.
The EU Commission had been pushing for a joint effort to stop Russia's proposal to switch to the later deadline.
The Commission had proposed barring member states from supporting the Russian plan, but, according to ShippingWatch's sources, the Council of Transport Ministers will issue a decision at its meeting on Friday to no longer pursue a joint stance.
That would free member states to make their own decisions on the proposal.
Sources called the postponement of regulations that could arise from that outcome "a disastrous signal to the industry."
NGOs warned last year that delaying the rules would punish ship owners that have moved forward with adopting clean technology in anticipation of the new regulation.
