Latest developments from the EU

摘要

The European Commission (EC) is launching an inquiry into establishing a European civil liability regime for offshore oil and gas companies involved in major accidents. They could then fund repairs and compensation for any damage caused without relying on local governments, writes Keith Nuthall. Because of the European Union's (EU) collection of relatively small national jurisdictions, Brussels fears that a major accident involving an energy company could damage businesses and communities in two or more countries. In such an instance, there could be conflicts over who is liable. The idea is that energy companies would be prepared using 'funds, guarantees, insurance products... [to] cover the full costs of such resulting liabilities and to be flexible enough to render early compensation to victims of the accident.' The inquiry will consider possible legislation laying down a civil liabilfty regime and also the feasibility of an EU compensation fund for offshore accidents and how this might function.