Activites

• 1998/06/17 Final act published in Official Journal
  • Directive 1998/35
  • OJ L 172 17.06.1998, p. 0001
• #2098
• 1998/05/25 Council Meeting
• 1998/05/25 End of procedure in Parliament
• 1998/05/25 Act adopted by Council after consultation of Parliament
• 1998/01/29 Debate in Parliament
  • T4-0053/1998 summary

    In adopting the recommendation for second reading by Mr Eolo PARODI (UPE, I), the European Parliament approved the common position of the Council, reinstating only one of the amendments adopted at first reading, namely that concerning the principles governing watch-keeping on board vessels. Two other amendments were also adopted, concerning: - the eyesight and hearing of seafarers, which should meet standards appropriate to their tasks and responsibilities; - rest periods: it should only be possible to reduce these in exceptional situations which could not reasonably have been anticipated at the commencement of the voyage.�

• 1997/12/09 Vote in committee, 2nd reading
  • A4-0411/1997
• 1997/11/06 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 2nd reading
• #2034
• 1997/10/20 Council Meeting
  • 10064/2/1997 summary

    The common position on the proposal for the amending of the Directive on the training of seafarers incorporates the substance of the amendments proposed by the European Parliament and introduces a substantial number of new provisions. The Council has adopted 13 of the 19 amendments included in the Commission's amended proposal, relating primarily to the following points: - recognition by the Member States of levels of training only where these are consistent with the provisions of the STCW Convention, and the possibility for Member States to establish higher standards than those of the Directive, should they wish to do so; - introduction of provisions to optimize oral communication and introduce a common working language on ships, both passenger ships and tankers, in accordance with the IMO's SOLAS Convention; - notification of the Commission rather than a committee procedure concerning the adoption of a decision on the definition of near-coastal voyages; - review of the Directive after it has been in force for five years, with possible amendments before then through a committee procedure; - addition of a new annex to ensure a harmonized Community approach to the recognition of certificates issued by third countries, whilst allowing Member States a certain amount of leeway to take individual action where collective action is not necessary. The Council has also introduced new provisions concerning mainly: - the scope of the directive, by aligning the Community text to the new STCW Convention of 1995, which applies to all seafarers and not just crew members; - improvement of the definitions contained in the Directive; - the recommendations (Part B) of the STCW Convention: the Council has deleted this section on the grounds that the recommendations are non-mandatory; - mutual recognition of foreign certificates: the Council felt it was more appropriate for the definition of the criteria for the recognition of foreign certificates to be based on compliance with the provisions of the STCW Convention by the third countries concerned. The procedures agreed by the Council in order to verify that the third countries satisfy the STCW standards refer to the requirement that the country should figure in the IMO White List. Member States must ensure that the standards of competence and rules on the issue and endorsement of certificates are fully complied with. The committee provided for by the Directive is authorized to check and approve the foreign certificates to be recognized by Member States; - port State control: the Council has replaced the Directive's provisions on compliance with Directive 95/21/EC on port State control by the provisions of the Convention on the same subject. The Council has not accepted the amendments proposed by Parliament on watchkeeping or on the establishing of a European training institute for seafarers. �

• 1997/09/15 Modified legislative proposal published
  • COM(1997)0375 summary

    The Commission's amended proposal incorporates, wholly or in part, 19 of the 35 amendments adopted by Parliament at first reading. The main amendments accepted relate to the following points: - recognition by Member States of qualifications only where they testify to a level of training equivalent to the requirements of the STCW Convention; - possibility for Member States to adopt stricter standards than those of the directive; - application, from the date of entry into force of the directive, of all provisions and recommendations of the STCW Convention; - implementation of measures to attract young people to the maritime profession; - updating of the definition of ships flying the flag of a Member State; - notification of the Commission of the decision on the definition of near-coastal voyages (rather than the establishing of a committee procedure); - improvement of oral communication on ships; - introduction of a single working language on ships (including oil and other tankers). Ships flying the flag of a third country and operating in a Member State will be inspected by the competent port authorities under the provisions of Directive 95/21/EC in order to ensure that a common working language has been adopted; - introduction of specific provisions on watchkeeping; - review of the Directive every five years, and more frequently if required in certain sectors, through a simple committee procedure; - addition of a new annex on procedures and criteria for the recognition of certificates of third countries. The Commission has not accepted the amendments on harmonizing levels of training of seafarers in the Community or on setting up a European training institute. �

• #2016
• 1997/06/17 Council Meeting
• 1997/05/29 Debate in Parliament
  • T4-0272/1997 summary

    In adopting the report by Mr Eolo PARODI (UPE, I), the European Parliament has approved the proposal for a Directive with the following amendments: - the present proposal is intended to replace rather than amend Directive 94/58/EC, in order to ensure legal clarity; - Member States must be limited to recognition of certificates attesting to a level of training which satisfies the requirements of the STCW Convention. They may impose stricter standards than those of the Directive; - training standards should ideally be 'harmonized' or 'homogenized' within the Union in order to ensure safety in this field (Parliament in particular proposes the creation of a European training institute for seafarers and measures to attract young people to the maritime profession); - all the provisions and recommendations of the STCW Convention (Parts A and B) will become an integral part of the Directive as soon as it enters into force; - the concept of 'ship flying the flag of a Member State' is redefined as meaning a 'ship registered in and flying the flag of a Member State', and ships not corresponding to this definition are assimilated to ships flying the flag of a third country; - decisions on the definition of near-coastal voyages will have to be taken independently of any committee procedure; - employers must comply with rules and standards on workers' health and safety under national and Community law; - provision is made for 'effective' oral communication on board ships with a view to safety, including a common working language (which must be established and recorded in the ship's log-book and regarded as the 'working language' for all activities). The provisions on working language also apply on board oil, chemical and gas tankers; - Member States must impose penalties if the competent port authorities establish that the master, officers or ratings are unable to furnish proof of their vocational competence; - an officer in charge of the watch may not leave the bridge until relieved by another officer; - the Directive will be reviewed after it has been in force for five years (Parliament also makes provision for cases in which the committee procedure may be used to amend the Directive); - a new annex is added, covering procedures and criteria for the recognition of certificates of third countries; in future, Member States may only recognize and endorse seafarers' certificates issued by third countries for service on board ships flying the flag of the Member State concerned if a large number of conditions (described in the Annex) are fulfilled. �

• 1997/05/21 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • A4-0174/1997
• 1996/10/23 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
• 1996/10/01 Legislative proposal published
  • COM(1996)0470 summary

    OBJECTIVE: To adapt Directive 94/58/EC on the minimum level of training of seafarers, based on the internationally agreed training rules as contained in the IMO Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW Convention) of 1978. SUBSTANCE: At the IMO Conference which took place in London from 26 June to 7 July 1995 the STCW 1978 Convention was substantially revised. In the light of the revised Convention (STCW 95), the Commission proposal to adapt the Directive concerns: - the new training and certification requirements including watchkeeping provisions which deal, inter alia, with the mandatory minimum rest period for watchkeeping personnel; - the introduction of common criteria for the recognition of seafarers' certificates issued by third countries. It should be noted that the proposal does not amend the articles of Directive 94/58/EC concerning communication on board ship and Port State controls. �

Documents

• Legislative proposal published: COM(1996)0470
• Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading: A4-0174/1997
• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T4-0272/1997
• Modified legislative proposal published: COM(1997)0375
• Council position published: 10064/2/1997
• Committee recommendation tabled for plenary, 2nd reading: A4-0411/1997
• Decision by Parliament, 2nd reading: T4-0053/1998
• : Directive 1998/35
• : OJ L 172 17.06.1998, p. 0001

History

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