Commissie zet eerste stappen tegen Estland en Italië voor het niet erkennen van zeevaartopleidingen (en)

The European Commission sent today reasoned opinions to Estonia and Italy for failure to adopt national legislation on the mutual recognition of seafarers' certificates issued by the Member States. Sending a reasoned opinion is the last step before the lodging of a formal complaint to the Court of Justice.

The Commission has decided to act against Estonia and Italy for failure to fully transpose into national law a 2005 Directive^[1]. The Directive aims to improve the image of European shipping and to attract young people to the seafaring profession. It fosters professional mobility of seafarers within the European Union, with particular emphasis on recognition procedures for seafarers' certificates of competency, while ensuring thorough compliance with the requirements of relevant International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Conventions.

Member States had until 20 October 2007 to transpose the Directive.

^[1] Directive 2005/45/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on the mutual recognition of seafarers' certificates issued by the Member States and amending Directive 2001/25/EC (OJ L 255, 30.9.2005, p. 160)