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Cyprus Shipping Deputy Minister Vassilios Demetriades welcomes start of revision of IMO GHG Strategy

Vassilios Demetriades - Cyprus Shipping Deputy Minister to the President

In London last week for the IMO Assembly, where Cyprus was re-elected a Member (Category C) of the 40-strong IMO Council, Cyprus Shipping Deputy Minister Vassilios Demetriades explained his country’s view on the outcome of the recent MEPC 77 meeting of the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee as well as on EU policy on reducing shipping emissions.

“Cyprus has always played a leading role and active contribution in the formulation of global and EU maritime policy, contributing to the IMO, ILO and EU discussions on forming regulation,” he pointed out. “As a leading EU flag, Cyprus is committed to taking an environmentally sustainable path and supporting the industry in making progress towards its emissions reduction ambitions and participating in the development of policy development on both an international and regional level.

“MEPC 77 agreed to initiate the revision of the IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG emissions from ships, so we look forward MEPC 78 next year and being able to provide further contribution and proposals to make wide industry improvements going forwards.

“This is an era where we need to unify and collaborate across all industries and sectors. Global rules are the fairest and most pragmatic for an international industry such as shipping. However, we acknowledge the right of the EU to proceed with regional measures demonstrating a higher level of ambition, aiming to lead by example.

“An essential element of being an effective leader is to be a good listener ready to adapt in order to set the basis for a global approach ensuring that shipping has a meaningful contribution to climate change,” the Cyprus Shipping Deputy Minister concluded. “We hope further meetings will expedite change and progress early in 2022.”

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