Reviewing proposed EU oil and gas offshore safety regulation:Little to fear and much to gain,or a slippery slope?

摘要

It might be said that the industry has little to fear and much to gain from efforts in Brussels to ensure the safety of offshore oil and gas production in Europe. However, many will view recent moves as unnecessary, unwelcome, and the beginning of a slippery slope to centralized regulation of offshore oil and gas production. The new proposals, outlined in the autumn by the European Commission, are set to harmonize standards and best practices by bringing the rest of the region up to the levels of safety enjoyed in the UK and Norway. While most European offshore oil and gas production is still in the UK and Norway, it has been spreading across the region; and exploration and production licences have now been awarded in 13 member states, including many Mediterranean countries.