Common Sense Victory on Oil and Gas
Press release from SNP MEP Alyn Smith
Scots MEP Alyn Smith has today welcomed the ‘sensible’ move by the European Parliament to turn proposed new EU-wide offshore oil and gas safety rules from a stringent regulation into a more legally flexible directive.
Alyn, the sole Scots member of the Energy Committee (ITRE) has previously brought together industry experts and Commission officials to discuss the issue, and lodged the amendment to turn the proposals into the form of a directive.
Commenting Alyn said:
"This is a victory for common sense. The proposed new EU-wide rules would be of the detriment to our already high standards in the North Sea. The adoption of the amendment is proof that the engagement strategy with workers and the industry has borne fruit.
"We all share the same concerns, and we are all committed to ensuring the highest health and safety and environmental standards possible. In Scotland, we take the issue very seriously indeed; having learnt from previous disasters such as Piper Alpha.
"I’m delighted that my colleagues in the Committee are now in agreement with the unanimous views of industry and union representatives."
