MEP says International maritime law institute plays crucial role in enhancing safety of shipping policy

MEP Roberta Metsola said that the International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI) at the University of Malta, plays a crucial in enhancing the safety, security and efficiency of shipping policy while progressively reducing the industry's impact on the marine and atmospheric environment.

During her visit of the institute where she was accompan.ied by opposition foreign affairs spokesperson Tonio Fenech, Metsola underlined IMLI's key role in drafting highly specialised national laws for the maritime sector, without which IMO's internationally agreed standards cannot be met.

Fenech added that since its inception in 1988, IMLI had contributed significantly in the academic realm by publishing several books and journals.

“Lawyers from several countries are currently undergoing training in international maritime law at IMLI,” Metsola said, referring to the migration issue.

“The need to establish legal response strategies to protect the victims of illegal trafficking is of major interest to IMLI as the Institute is actively promoting the need to defend the dignity of the human person at sea.”

Metsola also said that the European Parliament and the International Maritime Organisation continue to work closely to effectively regulate the maritime sector.

Earlier this year, the European Parliament adopted a text for a regulation that establishes an EU wide system for monitoring, reporting and verifying greenhouse gas emissions from shipping, so as to encourage a reduction in emissions and increase the efficient consumption of fuel.