The Rapporteur of the European Parliament's Temporary Committee on Improving Safety at Sea (MARE Committee), Dirk Sterckx, made his draft report on improving safety at sea available this week. It will be presented to the Plenary of the European Parliament on 8 March in Strasbourg, after which the MEPs have until 15 March to propose amendments. The final report is scheduled to be adopted by the European Parliament in plenary on 20 - 22 April 2004. Sterckx was also the Rapporteur who produced the post-Prestige report for the Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism Committee. Both reports are characterised by their balanced view. Sterckx once again emphasises the need for places of refuge…