EUROFER Backs Call for Ban on Turkish Ship Recycling Yards from EU-Approved List
Brussels: The European Steel Association (EUROFER) has joined a growing coalition of industry groups and environmental organizations urging the European Commission to remove Turkish ship recycling facilities from the European Union’s approved list of shipbreaking yards, citing concerns over environmental standards, regulatory loopholes and unfair competition in the global recycling sector.
The call was made jointly by EUROFER, Recycling Europe and the Belgium-based NGO Shipbreaking Platform during the European Commission’s ongoing review of technical guidelines governing ship recycling facilities located outside the EU. The organizations argued that the current framework contains “double standards” that allow certain non-EU facilities to continue operating despite practices that would not be permitted within the bloc.
At the center of the dispute are shipbreaking yards in Aliağa, Turkey, which are currently included on the EU-approved list and are permitted to recycle EU-flagged vessels. The coalition has called for the removal of these facilities until stricter environmental and operational standards are met. According to the groups, some Turkish yards benefit from exemptions to environmental permitting and licensing requirements despite what they describe as a high-risk operating profile.
The organizations are also demanding a clear ban on beaching and landing methods used in ship dismantling, arguing that such practices pose environmental and occupational safety risks. They contend that all ship recycling facilities seeking approval to handle EU-flagged vessels should be subject to identical standards regardless of location.
The debate comes amid increasing scrutiny of Europe’s steel and recycling industries as policymakers seek to strengthen environmental regulations while maintaining industrial competitiveness. EUROFER has been actively advocating for stronger trade and industrial protection measures across the steel value chain, warning that uneven regulatory burdens and global market distortions are placing European industries under pressure.
Supporters of the proposal argue that allowing facilities with lower compliance requirements to compete for EU-flagged ships undermines investments made by European recyclers to meet stricter environmental and worker-safety standards. They say a level playing field is essential if Europe is to expand its own ship recycling capacity and promote more sustainable practices.
The European Commission is currently reviewing its technical guidance for third-country ship recycling facilities, a process that could influence future approvals and inspections under the EU Ship Recycling Regulation. Industry observers expect the outcome to have significant implications for the global ship recycling market, particularly for Turkey, which has emerged as one of the world’s major destinations for dismantling end-of-life vessels.
The Commission has not yet announced whether it will revise the status of Turkish yards on the EU-approved list.
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