22.7.2005 Official Journal of the European Union L 191/59 DIRECTIVE 2005/33/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 6 July 2005 amending Directive 1999/32/EC as regards the sulphur content of marine fuels THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 175(1) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (%), Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (?), After consulting the Committee of the Regions, Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (%), Whereas: (1) The Community’s environmental policy, as set out in the action programmes on the environment and, in particular, in the Sixth Community Environment Action Programme adopted by Decision No 1600/2002/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (¥, on the basis of Article 174 of the Treaty, aims to achieve levels of air quality that do not give rise to unacceptable impacts on, and risks to, human health and the environment. () OJ C 45E, 25.2.2003, p. 277. (3 0] C 208, 3.9.2003, p. 27. () Opinion of the European Parliament of 4 June 2003 (O] C 68 E, 18.3.2004, p. 311), Council Common Position of 9 December 2004 (O] C 63 E, 15.3.2005, p. 26), Position of the European Parliament of 13 April 2005 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and Council Decision of 23 May 2005. (*)  OJ L 242,10.9.2002, p. 1. Council Directive 1999/32/EC of 26 April 1999 relating to a reduction in the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels (°) lays down the maximum permitted sulphur content of heavy fuel oil, gas oil and marine gas oil used in the Community. Directive 1999/32/EC requires the Commission to consider what measures could be taken to reduce the contribution to acidification of the combustion of marine fuels other than marine gas oils and, if appropriate, make a proposal. Emissions from shipping due to the combustion of marine fuels with high sulphur content contribute to air pollution in the form of sulphur dioxide and particulate matter, harming human health, damaging the environ- ment, public and private property and cultural heritage and contributing to acidification. Human beings and the natural environment in coastal areas and in the vicinity of ports are particularly affected by pollution from ships with high sulphur fuels. Specific measures are therefore required in this regard. The measures in this Directive complement Member States’ national measures to comply with emission ceilings for atmospheric pollutants set out in Directive 2001/81/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (9). Reducing the sulphur content of fuels has certain advantages for ships, in terms of operating efficiency and maintenance costs, and facilitates the effective use of certain emission abatement technologies such as selective catalytic reduction. OJ L 121, 11.5.1999, p. 13. Directive as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1882/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (O] L 284, 31.10.2003, p. 1). OJ L 309, 27.11.2001, p. 22. Directive as amended by the 2003 Act of Accession.