The pursuit of those goals requires substantial technical work led by a specialised body. For that reason it was necessary, as part of the measures set out in the communication of the Commission of 6 December 2000 on a second set of Community measures on maritime safety following the sinking of the oil tanker Erika, to establish, within the existing institutional framework and with respect for the responsibilities and rights of the Member States as flag, port and coastal States, a European agency for the purpose of ensuring a high, uniform and effective level of maritime safety and prevention of pollution by ships.
Text as published in the Official Journal, reproduced verbatim (including any typographical quirks of the source). For the authentic version, see EUR-Lex.
