Sir,
Let me assure readers that there are no European Commission proposals to
ban British ships from flying the Red Ensign as stated in the Daily
Express on 25 November and followed up by a number of local
papers.
The Commission has proposed a package of measures to ensure that
international safety standards are upheld by EU ships sailing under
their flags and that all member states have maritime administrations to
monitor the problems posed by "dustbin ships".
In particular, one of the measures is aimed at ensuring EU member states
verify the application of international rules on the ships sailing under
their flag, i.e. their national flags. The only European flag mentioned
in the proposal refers to EU national flags, i.e. in the case of the UK,
the Red Ensign.
The journalists who wrote the story in the Express did not contact the
Commission for a comment. If they had, it would have saved a great deal
of upset to mariners who have served our country under this flag for
centuries and are proud of its traditions and all that it represents.
Richard Corbett
Labour MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber |