Ahead of the summit of EU Heads of State and Government European Union that will start tomorrow in Brussels, the federation European Transport Workers' Organisation makes an urgent appeal to the European Council calling for the protection of workers seafarers, regardless of nationality, and at the heart of the EU's response to shipping attacks in the Black Sea. In the text of the appeal to the Council European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF) condemns with Force attacks on merchant ships and infrastructure and the recent Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports and underlines that "its Ukrainian affiliates and their members need of action, not of another statement of concern".

In the appeal, ETF cites data released last month by the government according to which, since the beginning of the Russian invasion, 1,173 port infrastructure and 274 civilian ships were damaged or partially destroyed. The document also mentions two episodes that of 3 October when, in the Odessa region, An attack on a merchant ship that killed a and injured three others, and the one on 6 October which took place in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone where ships freighters Alfa Watan and Able were hit. The Alfa Watan sank and its crew was missing. The 18 crew members of the Able, including two with serious injuries, they were saved.

The principle reiterated by the union in the appeal is that maritime and port operations are civil and "must never be targets". In addition, ships, ports and maritime infrastructure must be protected under international law and the attacks that endanger crews and port workers are "unacceptable".

The ETF also points out that on ships operating in the waters of the and the rest of the world work seafarers from many nationalities, including Ukrainians and Russians, often side by side with flank. No seafarer - underlines the union - must be held accountable for the actions of their government or exposed to dangers because of citizenship. The ETF also asks that maritime transport safety is not measured only in terms of ships, goods and trade flows, but in human lives, and highlights that Crews and dockers must enter the security debate maritime and not be treated as a side effect of sanctions, energy and trade.

The appeal calls on the leaders to EU government to ensure the urgent protection of seafarers and ships, putting in place all necessary measures to prevent new attacks on merchant ships and allow a safe navigation, and to ensure the timeliness and coordination of search and rescue operations, carrying out every effort to find the missing seafarers, continuing until There is a reasonable chance of saving lives.

The European Transport Workers' Union urges also the protection of dockers and port staff through effective risk assessments, emergency preparedness, Reliable security information and protective measures with particular attention to Ukrainian ports where the workers suffer repeated attacks.

In addition to the EU institutions, the appeal is aimed at employers, flag states and port states, to ensure the right of workers to be able to refuse or terminate work that presents a serious hazard, and imminent, without suffering retaliation

The ETF also urges the EU and Member States to step up action to restore the safe transit of ships merchant ships in the Black Sea, protecting maritime infrastructure and enforce humanitarian and maritime law. The attacks on ships and civilian ports - underlines the union - must be and those responsible for the illegal ones called to account.

Finally, the union calls for a real involvement of the workers' representatives, inviting the trade unions of maritime and port companies, including the Ukrainian affiliates of the ETF, on the Measures covering safety, working conditions and operations in high-risk areas.