the Commission shall, by 2008, submit to the European Parliament and to the Council a report and proposals for amending this Directive, in particular as regards the limit values laid down for each fuel category, the sea areas where low sulphur marine fuels are to be used, and proposals to reduce other forms of air pollution from seagoing ships, including full specifications for marine fuel along the lines of Directive 98/70/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 1998 relating to the quality of petrol and diesel fuels and amending Council Directive 93/12/EEC.

(16) In its resolution A.926(22), the IMO Assembly invited Governments, particularly those in regions where SOx Emission Control Areas have been designated, to ensure the availability of low sulphur bunker fuel oil in areas within their jurisdiction and to call on the oil and shipping industries to facilitate the availability and use of low sulphur bunker fuel oil .

Zero sulphur or sulphur-free fuels are unleaded petrol and diesel fuels that contain equal to or less than 10 mg/kg (ppm) of sulphur.

The Commission's consultants have calculated the price differential between low sulphur bunker fuel with a sulphur content of 1 per cent or less and high sulphur bunker fuel (3.5%).

Furthermore, until the full introduction of fuels with a maximum sulphur content of 10 mg/kg (ppm) in 2008 , the Member States shall report annually on the availability on a balanced geographic basis of petrol and diesel fuels with a maximum sulphur content of 10 mg/kg (ppm) within their territory.

2. The competent authority may allow a suspension for a maximum of six months from the obligation to comply with the emission limit values provided for in Article 4 for sulphur dioxide in respect of a plant which to this end normally uses low-sulphur fuel, in cases where the operator is unable to comply with these limit values because of an interruption in the supply of low-sulphur fuel resulting from a serious shortage.