European Parliament
President.
– As they deal with the same subject, Questions No 1 and 2 will be taken together.
Question No 1 by Josu Ortuondo Larrea 
Subject: Immediate implementation of the Erika I and II directives
On 13 November 2002, the tanker the Prestige was damaged off the coast of Galicia and subsequently sank, causing an environmental disaster.
When the directives and rules on maritime safety were adopted under the Erika I and II packages, their implementation was deferred, with some deadlines extending into 2003.
Was it not an error on the Council's part to have set such extended deadlines for the implementation of the directives, when it would have been better not to delay for so long?
Would it not be appropriate to bring forward the date of entry into force and to implement the directives immediately in order to avoid another major disaster?
Question No 2 by Manuel Medina Ortega 
Subject: Passage of oil tankers through the waters of the Azores, the Canaries and Madeira
In view of the disastrous impact which the black tide caused by the wreck of the Prestige is having on the coast of Galicia, and bearing in mind the threat to the islands of the Azores, the Canaries and Madeira, what measures will the Council adopt to guarantee the application of safety rules in the waters surrounding these three archipelagos?

