Activites

• 1996/09/17 Final act published in Official Journal
  • Directive 1996/50
  • OJ L 235 17.09.1996, p. 0031
• #1944
• 1996/07/23 Council Meeting
• 1996/07/23 End of procedure in Parliament
• 1996/07/23 Act adopted by Council after consultation of Parliament
• 1996/06/12 Modified legislative proposal published
  • COM(1996)0281
• 1996/05/09 Decision by Parliament, 2nd reading
  • T4-0218/1996 summary

    The recommendation for second reading by Mr Leen van der WAAL (I-EDN, NL) on the harmonization of the conditions for obtaining national boatmasters' certificates for the carriage of goods and passengers by inland waterways in the Community adopted by Parliament accepted the amendment to the scope of the directive made in the common position, the main import of which was that the issue of the transport of dangerous goods would be dealt with in a separate directive. At the same time, Parliament: - called for examinations in knowledge and skills carried out by the Member States to be organized on the basis of equivalent procedures; - considered that, in order to obtain certificates, the minimum professional experience required could be reduced by two years at the most (rather than three, as provided for in the common position) if the applicant was the holder of a recognized diploma or could provide proof of professional experience acquired on a sea-going vessel; - considered that examinations of boatmasters over the age of 65 should be held at three-year intervals (rather than on a yearly basis). Lastly, with a view to harmonizing examination syllabuses and procedures, Parliament asked the Commission to ensure that the competent authorities of the Member States consult each other at least once a year on examination requirements and regulations.

• 1996/05/08 Debate in Parliament
  • Debate in Parliament summary

    The rapporteur, Mr van der Waal (EDN, NL), stated that he could accept the change of scope introduced by the common position, which meant in particular that the question of transporting dangerous goods by navigable waterways would be the subject of a specific directive. As regards the other points, the rapporteur said that the Transport and Tourism Committee intended to maintain its previous position. In particular he pointed out that when it came to obtaining boatmasters’ certificates the minimum period of professional experience could be reduced by two years at most (rather than three, as provided for in the common position) if the applicant was holder of a recognised diploma or could provide proof of professional experience acquired on board a sea-going vessel. The rapporteur also thought that the examinations for boatmasters over the age of 65 should be held at three-year intervals. Finally, he pointed out that one of the amendments was aimed at excluding from the scope of the directive those boatmasters operating exclusively on navigable waterways connecting two Member States, but not connected to the inland waterway network of a third Member State. Commissioner Kinnock called on Parliament to approve the common position without further ado, as the Commission was unable to accept any of the amendments that had been tabled by Parliament.

• 1996/04/25 Vote in committee, 2nd reading
  • A4-0128/1996
• 1996/02/01 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 2nd reading
• #1893
• 1995/12/08 Council Meeting
  • 08423/2/1995 summary

    The Council incorporated certain amendments by the European Parliament, such as those stating that certificates were optional after 18 years of age and that the limitation on the validity of the certificate referred to the category of boat. However, the Council did not incorporate editorial amendments or amendments relating to Annex II specifying the knowledge required in order to obtain a boatmaster's certificate. The common position largely corresponds to the Commission's initial proposal. However, it does contain major amendments seeking to: - exclude waterways to which the Rhine navigation licence applies from the scope of the directive; - postpone the date by which certificates must be issued (18 months after the entry into force of the directive) - introduce limits regarding size and the number of passengers carried in order to exempt small boats from the directive; - reword the provisions regarding minimum age so as to enable Member States which issue boatmasters' certificates to persons aged 18 years and upwards to refuse to permit young skippers between 18 and 21 years of age from another Member State from carrying on the occupation of boatmaster in their territory; - increase the maximum reduction in the duration of professional experience required to three years; - require boatmasters aged 65 and over to undergo an annual medical examination for safety reasons; - replace the term "carnet de bord" by "livret de service" (does not affect the English version); - delete Article 9 on the transport of dangerous substances and article 11 on the withdrawal of or refusal to issue certificates; - add an article covering the transportation of passengers where either the boatmaster or another member of the crew must be in possession of a special certificate as proof of his/her having passed an examination of professional knowledge in the subjects referred to in Chapter C of the Annex.�

• 1995/10/18 Modified legislative proposal published
  • COM(1995)0474 summary

    The amended proposal incorporates all the amendments adopted by the European Parliament. The amendments call for: - joint provisions for issuing inland waterway boatmasters' certificates to be laid down so that safety requirements in the inland waterway sector can gradually be strengthened; - examinations in knowledge and skills to be carried out by the Member States and organized on the basis of equivalent procedures; - the directive to apply to boatmasters of towed vessels and pushed barges; - Member States to retain the facility to issue a boatmaster's certificate to persons aged 18 and upwards; - professional experience to be validated by the Member State by entering it in a personal service record; - certificates of aptitude to be kept with the boatmaster's certificate; - not only for the boatmaster to be in possession of a certificate for the transportation of dangerous substances, but for the boatmaster or another member of the crew to have passed the examinations or to hold the certificate issued in accordance with the requirements of the ADNR (marginalia 10135 and 210315); - the boatmaster also to have a Rhine radar navigation certificate in order to sail a vessel with the aid of radar; - Member States to consult at least once a year on examination requirements and regulations for the purposes of harmonization; - the requirements in Annex II to be strengthened by adding the following subjects: entering and leaving tidal ports; knowledge of ropes, cables, chains and closing devices; knowledge of control mechanisms (hydraulic/pneumatic); safety requirements.�

• #1834
• 1995/03/14 Council Meeting
• 1995/03/02 Debate in Parliament
  • Debate in Parliament
  • T4-0082/1995 summary

    The European Parliament approved the Commission proposal subject to 16 amendments seeking to clarify and strengthen the directive. In Parliament's opinion: - joint provisions should be laid down for issuing inland waterway boatmasters' certificates in order to respond to the need to gradually strengthen safety requirements in the inland waterway sector; - examinations in knowledge and skills set by the Member States should be organised on the basis of equivalent procedures; - the directive should apply to masters of towed vessels and pushed barges; - the Member States should retain the facility to issue boatmasters' certificates to persons aged 18 and upwards; - professional experience should be validated by a Member State by entering it in a personal service record; - certificates of aptitude should be kept with the boatmasters' certificate; - for the transportation of dangerous substances, not only should the boatmaster be in possession of a certificate, but the boatmaster or another member of the crew should have passed the examinations or should hold the certificate issued in accordance with the requirements of the ADNR (marginalia 10135 and 210315); - the boatmaster should also have a Rhine radar navigation certificate in order to sail a vessel with the aid of radar; - Member States should consult at least once a year on examination requirements and regulations for the purposes of harmonisation; - finally, the European Parliament strengthened the requirements of Annex II by adding the following subjects: entering and leaving tidal ports, knowledge of ropes, cables, chains and closing devices, knowledge of control mechanisms (hydraulic/pneumatic) and safety requirements.�

• 1995/02/14 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • A4-0023/1995
• 1994/10/24 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
• 1994/09/08 Legislative proposal published
  • COM(1994)0359 summary

    1) OBJECTIVE: to harmonize the conditions for obtaining national boatmasters' certificates for inland waterways between the Member States in order to combat distortions of competition between carriers and increase safety on inland waterways. 2) CONTENT: 1. The directive includes the distinction made when Directive 91/672/EEC was adopted, between certificates for Community waterways (Group B) and individual certificates for waterways in the Community and maritime zones (Group A). 2. Certain terms used in the directive are defined. 3. Scope of the directive: national certificates may be maintained for isolated networks under certain circumstances. 4. The validity of certificates which meet the minimum requirements of the directive is extended to all the Member States of the Community. 5. In order to obtain a certificate, boatmasters must: * be at least 21 years of age (with some exceptions); * have the required physical and mental aptitude; * have at least four year's professional experience as a member of the bridge crew on an inland waterway vessel; * have passed an examination on their professional knowledge, the main subjects of which are listed in Annex II; * comply with specific conditions governing the carriage of dangerous substances; * comply with specific conditions governing radar navigation. 6. A refusal to issue or a decision to withdraw a certificate must be justified. 7. The Commission may take the measures needed in order to adapt the specimen boatmasters' certificate contained in Annex I and the professional skills needed in order to obtain the certificate, as listed in Annex II. Composition and role of the committee to assist the Commission in this function. Source: European Commission - Info92 - 10/95 �

Documents

• Legislative proposal published: COM(1994)0359
• Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading: A4-0023/1995
• Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T4-0082/1995
• Modified legislative proposal published: COM(1995)0474
• Council position published: 08423/2/1995
• Committee recommendation tabled for plenary, 2nd reading: A4-0128/1996
• Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
• Decision by Parliament, 2nd reading: T4-0218/1996
• Modified legislative proposal published: COM(1996)0281
• : Directive 1996/50
• : OJ L 235 17.09.1996, p. 0031

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)