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Arsenio Dominguez, the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), engaged in pivotal discussions during a series of meetings held in Brussels, Belgium. The meetings encompassed sessions with the EU Council Presidency, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), and the European Commission.
In a significant meeting with Mr. Peter Claeyssens, the Director General for Shipping overseeing the EU Council Presidency, Secretary-General Dominguez emphasized critical concerns regarding the situation in the Red Sea. The focal points included safeguarding seafarers, ensuring freedom of navigation, and promoting de-escalation in the region.
Among the key topics discussed with Ms. Magda Kopczynska, Director General of the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE) at the European Commission, were the implementation of the 2023 IMO Strategy to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Shipping. Safety and security issues were also on the agenda. The upcoming entry into force in June 2025 of the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships was a notable subject of deliberation.
Expressing gratitude, Mr. Dominguez acknowledged the continuous financial support extended by the European Commission and the European Union for IMO-executed projects. Notable among these projects are the Global Maritime Technology Cooperation Centres Network (GMN) project and the EU-funded “Regional Programme for Maritime Security in the Red Sea Region.”
Earlier in the day, Secretary-General Dominguez engaged with MEPs, including members from the Committee on Transport and Tourism and the Committee on the Environment, Public Health, and Food Safety. The meeting, attended by Mrs. Karima Delli and Mr. Bas Eickhout, facilitated an exchange of views on matters pertaining to the EU and IMO maritime agenda. A specific emphasis was placed on aligning European Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reduction measures with IMO instruments following the Organization’s adoption of mid-term measures. The MEPs welcomed the adoption of the revised strategy, considering it a significant benchmark in the transport sector.
Expressing appreciation, the Secretary-General thanked the Chair of the Transport Committee for extending an invitation to attend a formal session of the Committee in the upcoming autumn.
The Brussels meetings served as a platform for constructive dialogue, addressing pressing maritime issues and fostering collaboration between the IMO and European entities.
Source:IMO