Madam, - Your recent supplement on the Irish EU presidency set out priorities that included tackling marine pollution, illegal immigration and drug trafficking.
Mr Dermot Ahern voiced his support for an EU directive introducing criminal sanctions for environmental offences at sea. In my view such a move does not go far enough. The EU also needs an adequate emergency response mechanism should an environmental disaster such as the Prestige occur again. Member-states acting alone are under-resourced and ill prepared to face such maritime disasters.
The collisions in the English Channel in 2002 also show the need for more effective co-ordination to avoid maritime accidents. In addition, EU coastal waters are being exploited by organised crime for trafficking in arms, drugs and human beings.
I have been campaigning for a several years for the establishment of an EU coastguard. By supporting this idea the Irish presidency would help to advance the list of priorities it set itself. - Yours, etc.,
JOHN CUSHNAHAN, MEP, European Parliament, Brussels.