Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001879/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Maria Zacharia (NI)
The recent seismic sequence in Santorini coincides with the sad 18-year anniversary of inactivity on the wreck of the ‘Sea Diamond’, which is hanging on a steep slope of the seabed at a depth of 120 metres and at risk of sliding and reaching a depth of 280 metres, with dramatic consequences for the island’s exceptionally beautiful natural environment.
The Commission has been aware of the situation since 2007(!) with colleagues’ oral and written questions nos E-2185/07,[1] E-2274/07,[2] H-0509/07,[3] E-5789/07,[4] E-1944/08,[5] H-0748/08,[6] E-5439/08,[7] E-6685/08,[8] E-4818/09,[9] H-0037/10,[10] E-002071/2011,[11] E-005420/2011,[12] E-003198/2012[13] and E-003650/2012.[14] It is also aware of the case law of the Court of Justice, according to which fuel on board a tanker becomes waste from the moment it leaks into the sea and, therefore, there is a breach of Directive 2006/12/EC on waste and in particular of Article 4 of the Directive, according to which Member States must take the necessary measures to prohibit the abandonment, dumping and uncontrolled disposal of waste.
The Commission, however, disputes the spillage of oil or other toxic waste into the sea, ignoring a study by the Department of Environmental Engineering of the Technical University of Crete from 2011, which has been communicated to it, as have the judicial expert opinions from 2019 and 2020.
Could the Commission justify its services’ decision not to take current scientific data into account?
Submitted: 12.5.2025
- [1] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-6-2007-2185_EN.html
- [2] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-6-2007-2274_EN.html
- [3] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/H-6-2007-0509_EN.html
- [4] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-6-2007-5789_EN.html
- [5] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-6-2008-1944_EN.html
- [6] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/H-6-2008-0748_EN.html
- [7] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-6-2008-5439_EN.html
- [8] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-6-2008-6685_EN.html
- [9] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-7-2009-4818_EN.html
- [10] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/H-7-2010-0037_EN.html
- [11] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-7-2011-002071_EN.html
- [12] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-7-2011-005420_EN.html
- [13] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-7-2012-003198_EN.html
- [14] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-7-2012-003650_EN.html