The European Commission has proposed a financial package of EUR 154 million over a period of seven years for the European Maritime Safety Agency to allow it to combat pollution caused by ships. The funds will enable the Agency to make specialised anti-pollution vessels available to Member States to recover pollutants and develop satellite images to detect pollution in good time. Jacques Barrot, Vice-President responsible for Transport said: 'We must have a European system to combat pollution at sea in order to protect our coasts.' He added: 'The Maritime Safety Agency needs adequate funding to help it combat pollution at sea'.The European Commission has proposed a financial package of EUR 154 million over a period of seven years for the European Maritime Safety Agency to allow it to combat pollution caused by ships. The funds will enable the Agency to make specialised anti-pollution vessels available to Member States to recover pollutants and develop satellite images to detect pollution in good time. Jacques Barrot, Vice-President responsible for Transport said: 'We must have a European system to combat pollution at sea in order to protect our coasts.' He added: 'The Maritime Safety Agency needs adequate funding to help it combat pollution at sea'.