European Parliament 16 September 2002, WRITTEN QUESTION E-2571/02 by Margie Sudre (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Future of tourism ecolabels in Europe.

2. With respect to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution by ships (Marpol) Annex VI, the sulphur oxides (SOX) Emission Control Area in the North Sea and the Baltic will not enter into force on 31 December 2002. Annex VI can only enter into force twelve months after it has been ratified by fifteen flag states representing 50 % of world merchant shipping tonnage.