The Malta Sociological Association has submitted its feedback to the European Commission with regard to the public consultation process about Ship recycling – EU list of approved ship recycling facilities (12th edition).
The Malta Sociological Association (MSA) notes that that this initiative updates the list of approved recycling facilities. This in relation to EU policy that owners of ships sailing under the flag of an EU country must dismantle them when they reach the end of their operational life in recycling facilities that meet EU health and environmental standards.
In this regard, the MSA is proposing that Social Impact Assessments (SIAs) should be incorporated and mainstream in this policy process. SIAs should not be one-off exercises. Instead, SIAs should be carried out through ongoing processes, conforming to international guidelines, such as those of the International Association for Impact Assessment. This comprises social-scientific methods with regard to consultation outreach. The Maritime Sector is characterised by various dimensions, such as the ecological, the economic, and the social, and these should be given due consideration in the formulation and implementation of sustainable policy.
