The UK’s North Sea oil and gas industry has welcomed a vote by EU members of parliament in favour of an offshore safety directive.
The move, which means EU states could be given a more flexible directive on offshore safety instead of fixed regulation it was feared would be controlled from Brussels.
The vote, dubbed “a victory for common sense” by a Scottish MEP, was made by the European Parliament’s Energy Committee this morning.
Oil & Gas UK said it welcomed the outcome of the vote.
Malcolm Webb, Oil & Gas UK’s chief executive, said: “The result, which comes after the Environment Committee vote for a directive, is very encouraging.
“We strongly believe this is the best way to achieve the European Commission’s objective of raising offshore safety standards across the EU, to the high levels already present in the North Sea.
“A regulation would do exactly the opposite and weaken the UK’s already world-class offshore health and safety regime.
“We trust that the European Parliament, Council and Commission will now look to work constructively together towards a well-worded directive as the best way forward.
“The regulation which the Commission has to date favoured would involve needless and significant legal and administrative disruption with consequential risks for safety.”
Scottish MEP Alyn Smith said: “This is a victory for common sense. The proposed new EU-wide rules would be of the detriment of 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.”
