COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2021/1055

of 21 June 2021

on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Conference of Contracting Parties to the Convention on the collection, deposit and reception of waste generated during navigation on the Rhine and other inland waterways (CDNI) on the adoption of the resolution aiming to extend the ban on the discharging of domestic wastewater to inland waterways vessels carrying between 12 and 50 passengers

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 91(1), in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) The Convention on the collection, deposit and reception of waste generated during navigation on the Rhine and other inland waterways (CDNI) of 9 September 1996 entered into force on 1 November 2009.

(2) Pursuant to Article 19 of the CDNI, the Conference of Contracting Parties may amend the CDNI and its annexes.

(3) Action by the Union in the sector of inland navigation should aim to ensure uniformity of technical requirements applied in the Union, as regards inland waterway vessels in the Union.

(4) The Conference of Contracting Parties to the CDNI is to adopt during its meeting on 22 June 2021 a resolution aiming to extend the ban on the discharging of domestic wastewater to inland waterways vessels carrying more than 12 passengers and passenger cabin vessels with more than 12 sleeping berths. The provisions of that resolution will require appropriate equipment to be installed on board vessels falling within the scope of that resolution.

(5) The technical standard for inland navigation vessels (ES-TRIN 2019/1), adopted by the European Committee for drawing up Standards in Inland Navigation (CESNI) on 8 November 2018, lays down uniform technical requirements necessary to ensure the safety of inland waterway vessels. It includes special provisions regarding specific categories of vessels, such as passenger vessels, provisions regarding the equipment and installations of vessels, including wastewater collection and disposal facilities, as well as instructions for the application of that technical standard.

(6) It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf in the Conference of Contracting Parties to the CDNI, as the provisions of the resolution will be capable of decisively influencing the content of Union law, namely Directive (EU) 2016/1629 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1).

(7) The resolution should increase consistency with the requirements set by Union law, mainly in the area of the applicability dates for installing the appropriate equipment for collecting wastewater on inland waterway vessels. Furthermore, the resolution furthers environmental protection initiatives and objectives.

(8) The Union is not a Contracting Party to the CDNI. The Union’s position is to be expressed by the Member States of the Union that are Contracting Parties to the CDNI, acting jointly in the interest of the Union,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 The position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Conference of Contracting Parties to the Convention on the collection, deposit and reception of waste generated during navigation on the Rhine and other inland waterways (CDNI), at its meeting on 22 June 2021, shall be to agree to the adoption of the resolution aiming to extend the ban on the discharging of domestic wastewater to inland waterway vessels carrying between 12 and 50 passengers.

Article 2 The position referred to in Article 1 shall be expressed by the Member States of the Union that are members of the Conference of Contracting Parties to the CDNI, acting jointly in the interest of the Union.

Article 3 Minor changes to the position set out in Article 1 may be agreed upon without further decision of the Council.

Article 4 This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Luxembourg, 21 June 2021. For the Council The President J. BORRELL FONTELLES

(1) Directive (EU) 2016/1629 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 September 2016 laying down technical requirements for inland waterway vessels, amending Directive 2009/100/EC and repealing Directive 2006/87/EC (OJ L 252, 16.9.2016, p. 118).