On the occasion of his impending visit to Brussels later this month to assist in the work of the Temporary Committee on improving Safety at Sea (MARE Committee) of the European Parliament, IMO Secretary-General Mr. Efthimios E. Mitropoulos will meet with the Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Transport and Energy, Mrs. Loyola de Palacio, for the purpose of fostering a better understanding of the relationship between the IMO and the European Commission in order that the already existing co-operation between the two bodies may be further enhanced, so that maritime safety and security and environmental protection are better served in the future.

The meeting between Mr. Mitropoulos and Mrs. de Palacio will take place on January 21st and is seen as an opportunity to lay the foundations for further improvements in the working relationship between the European Commission and IMO, as they both strive toward their shared objectives of a safer, more secure and more environmentally friendly international maritime transport industry.
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IMO - the International Maritime Organization - is the United Nations Specialized Agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships. It has 163 Member States, including all 15 members of the European Union, and three Associate Members. Mr Mitropoulos took up the position of Secretary-General at the beginning of 2004.

Mrs de Palacio is Vice-president of the European Commission with special responsibility for relations with the European Parliament, Transport & Energy.

Briefing 02 2004
15 January 2004
For further information please contact:

Lee Adamson, Senior External Relations Officer on 020 7587 3153 (media@imo.org) or
Natasha Brown, External Relations Officer on 020 7587 3274 (media@imo.org ).
Web site: www.imo.org