The newsletter can also be accessed via www.marisec.org/ics-isfnews/May2009.pdf

 ICS/ISF News_ May2009

The following is a report of significant outcomes; more information can be obtained, if required, from the ICS secretariat.

Attached please find a press release, just issued by ICS and ISF, in response to the welcome news that the two ships' officers from the 'Hebei Spirit' are to be allowed to leave Korea.

 ICS&ISF(09)49 - Annex - Press Release - Comment on Release of Hebei Spirit Officers

Swedish Trade Minister Ewa Björling and EU Tade Commissioner Catherine Ashton and have met on 3rd June in Stockholm to discuss trade priorities for the upcoming Swedish Presidency of the European Union. They expressed their strong commitment to completing a range of important bilateral trade deals with third countries, including the ambitious free trade agreement with South Korea. They also discussed the heightened value of the Doha Round of world trade talks in the current economic downturn, as well as talking about a broad range of other trade issues.

Minister Björling said: “In this present time of economic downturn it is more important than ever to make real progress on a number of important trade issues. I am looking forward to work closely with the Commission on important free trade agreements with South Korea, the GCC, Central America, the Andean countries and other regions, and on moving the Doha Round forward. This is an essential step on the road to economic recovery.”

Commissioner Ashton said: “I welcome the strong backing of the upcoming Swedish presidency for our positive trade agenda. Our first priority is to close the ambitious and valuable free trade agreement with South Korea. I believe that we can solve the outstanding issues and get a deal that will benefit a wide range of European industries.”

Amongst other topics, Minister Björling and Commissioner Ashton discussed the following:

·       They agreed that fighting protectionism and finding new opportunities for trade is important in this economic downturn. Trade will drive recovery.

·       Improved market access, especially by removing non-tariff barriers, is important to ensure that European companies can compete fairly in third markets.

·       The value of the Doha Round of world trade talks is heightened in the current downturn, and a deal would be the best possible boost for the global economy.

·       Aside from South Korea, there are other valuable free trade agreements being negotiated including with Central America, the Andean Community, India, the Gulf Cooperation Council and the ASEAN group of Asian countries.

·       The accession of Russia to the WTO is an important goal. One of the key outstanding issues that need to be dealt with is Russian export duties on timber.

·       Increased trade in climate-friendly goods, services and technologies will play an increasingly important role in fighting climate change.

ASF ANNUAL MEETING PRESS RELEASE

Attached, please find the press release issued by the Asian Shipowners' Forum (ASF) following its recent Annual General Meeting.

 Press release_ASF

INTERNATIONAL CONTACT GROUP ON PIRACY OFF THE COAST OF SOMALIA - THIRD PLENARY MEETING - 29 MAY 2009

 The third plenary meeting of the International Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) was held in the United Nations Headquarters in New York on 29 May.  The meeting was chaired by Mr G T Delawie (Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, US State Department) and attended by 27 States and 6 inter-governmental organisations.  The Transitional Federal Government of Somalia was represented by Foreign Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Omar. 

Thus far the Commission has still not issued a (customary) report on the EU-Russia Summit in Khabarovsk on 21-22 May. In fact the Summit did not come to a joint statement. The main participants included Russian President Dmitri Medvedev and on EU side Javier Solana, José Manuel Barroso and Commissioners Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Catherine Ashton, as well as Czech President Vaclav Klaus.

From other sources it appears that the main issues / conclusions from the Summit were:

·        Eastern Partnership. Moscow continues to watch this new EU policy with uneasiness, despite repeated EU reassurances that the enhancement of neighbourhood relations with the six countries (Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus) “is not directed against Russia”.

·        Energy Charter Treaty (ECT). The EU is continuing to demand that the principles contained in the ECT (which Russia, has yet to ratify) be included in the energy chapter of the new EU-Russia partnership agreement currently under negotiation. Moscow is of the opinion that the ECT is outdated and should be replaced by a new international agreement.

·        Ukraine/gas transit. President Medvedev would not rule out further Russia-Ukraine gas conflicts but at the same time refused to accept any responsibility on the part of Russia; there would be doubts that Ukraine can pay.

·        WTO. No real progress would appear to have been made on the various issues that the EU finds problematic, but, according to Barroso, “President Medvedev was very clear on his commitment for the quick accession of Russia to the WTO”.

1.        The eleventh EU-China Summit was held in Prague, on 20 May 2009. The

Common Foreign and Security Policy, Mr. Javier Solana. Premier Wen Jiabao of

the State Council of the People's Republic of China attended the meeting on

behalf of China.

expressed their satisfaction with the rapid expansion of the relationship between the EU and China since the first Summit in 1998 which is now much deeper and

stronger, founded on a global, strategic, and mutually beneficial partnership. The

EU welcomes China's development and supports China’s continued path of peaceful development.

China reaffirmed its support for the EU's integration process and welcomes the EU’s constructive role

in international affairs. As a new decade opens for the EU-China Summit, the two sides restated their

firm commitment to pursuing the EU-China comprehensive strategic partnership and their willingness

to work together for their mutual development, in forward looking

manner based on the principles of mutual respect, equality, mutual trust,

reciprocity and win-win cooperation.

3.        Both sides stressed that in a complex and ever-changing international context,

EU-China relations increasingly transcend the bilateral framework and take on an international dimension. The two sides reaffirmed their active commitment to peace, stability, security, prosperity and sustainable development in the world, as well as to peaceful resolution of disputes by means of dialogue, effective multilateralism and the United Nations.

crisis, climate change and energy security as well as an exchange of views on regional issues (Korean Peninsula, Myanmar, Iran, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Pakistan). Leaders expressed their determination to strengthen cooperation, further work together to address global challenges including the financial crisis and climate change, and remain actively committed to enhancing coordination and cooperation in international affairs.

5.    Leaders expressed their satisfaction with the Second High-level Economic and Trade Dialogue which was successfully held in Brussels on 7- 8 May. The HED agenda will be followed up in the appropriate dialogues and working groups. The leaders restated their commitment to comprehensively implementing the communiqué at the London Summit, to resisting and rejecting protectionism of all forms and to reaching an ambitious, balanced and comprehensive conclusion to the Doha Development Round at an early date.

  6.    During the summit, the two parties signed cooperative agreements including the Joint Statement on Europe-China Clean Energy Center, EU-China Science and Technology Partnership Scheme, and EU China SMEs Cooperation Point of Consensus.    

7.    Leaders agreed to meet again in Beijing in the second half of the year.    

8.    The leaders also expressed their gratitude to the government and people of the Czech Republic for their hospitality and for the excellent organization of a successful Summit.

From a press source:

Climate cooperation

China has taken a generally cooperative line on climate negotiations, promising energy efficiency improvements and boosting renewable energies.

At the EU-China summit in Prague on Wednesday (20 May), Chinese officials predictably failed to answer Commission President Barroso’s demand that all major economies reveal the scale of emissions cuts that they are willing to make in view of a global agreement in Copenhagen. "China stands ready to work with the European Union," Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao told reporters but added that they should work according to "common but differentiated responsibility".

The two parties nevertheless agreed on cooperation to develop clean coal technology to curb emissions from China's coal-powered plants.

Moreover, China is working on developing its climate plan, which is meant to show the negotiating partners at the UNFCCC in Copenhagen that the country is serious about dealing with climate change.

"We are working on a further national plan based on a longer term in a bid to strengthen the enforcement of international treaties about the issue," Xie Zhenhua, China's chief climate negotiator, told Xinhua news agency.

The plan will focus on energy-saving measures, developing clean coal technology and reforestation activities, in order to tackle climate change while boosting economic growth, Xie said, He did not, however, give any figures for possible energy efficiency or emissions reduction targets.

The attached regulation includes information regarding the Transit Accompanying Document (the Transit/Security Accompanying Document) and the related list of items that should be established to include the data required in Annex 30A to Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 to enhance security. It also includes information on the Export Accompanying Document and the related list of items provided for in Article 796a of Regulation (EEC) 2454/93 that should be adapted to include the data set out in Annex 30A to Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93.

  Customs