Union of the Greek Shipowners (EEE) President Theodore Veniamis outlined the organization’s efforts to push the European Union to recognize the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as a benchmark at a recent EEE meeting.
 
The Greek shipping industry has been pressuring the EU to recognize the IMO as an institution for promoting, enacting and implementing greenhouse gas emission reduction efforts for oceanic vessels. According to Veniamis’ address to the EEE, that position is picking up steam with other European maritime industries. The EEE has maintained that a global approach to emissions standards would be both fairer and more effective than stricter standards applying only to European shipping and ports.
 
Veniamis and the EEE have been working with the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), among other organizations, to convince other shipping unions of their position ahead of an imminent decision from European institutions. The EEE has already had success with North European members, convincing them to back the more business-friendly standards.