A4-0352/98

Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 82/714/EEC laying down technical requirements for inland waterway vessels (COM(97)0644 - C4-0066/98 - 97/0335(SYN))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Recital 1

>Original text>

Whereas Council Directive 82/714/EEC of 4 October 1982 laying down technical requirements for inland waterway vessels introduced harmonised conditions for issuing technical certificates for inland waterway vessels in all Member States; whereas in the interest of safety these conditions have to be adapted to technical progress also taking into account changes in the Community's waterway network;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas Council Directive 82/714/EEC of 4 October 1982 laying down technical requirements for inland waterway vessels introduced harmonised conditions for issuing technical certificates for inland waterway vessels in all Member States; whereas

different technical requirements for inland waterway vessels continue to apply in Europe; whereas the simultaneous existence of differing international and national rules has hitherto stood in the way of efforts to achieve reciprocal recognition of national inland navigation certificates without additional inspection of foreign vessels; whereas moreover the standards contained in Directive 82/714/EEC have become outdated;

(Amendment 2)

Recital 2

>Original text>

Whereas the conditions and technical requirements for issuing inland navigation certificates under Article 22 of the Revised Convention for Navigation on the Rhine have been revised as from 1 January 1995; whereas it is desirable for competition and safety reasons to adopt the scope and content of such technical requirements for the whole of the Community network;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the technical requirements contained in the annexes to Directive 82/714/EEC for the most part repeat the provisions, applying on the Rhine, of the revised Regulation on Inspection of Shipping on the Rhine as adopted by the Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine (CCNR) in 1982; Whereas the conditions and technical requirements for issuing inland navigation certificates under Article 22 of the Revised Convention for Navigation on the Rhine have been revised, are acknowledged to be technically up to date and have applied since 1 January 1995; whereas it is desirable for competition and safety reasons and in the interests of harmonization throughout Europe to adopt the scope and content of such technical requirements for the whole of the Community network; whereas, in the process, changes in the Community waterway network must be taken into account;

(Amendment 3)

Recital 4a (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas, in its resolution of 24 October 1979 on the then proposal for Directive 82/714/EEC(1), the European Parliament regretted the fact that passenger vessels were not covered in the harmonization of minimum technical standards; whereas, in the interest of the safety of passenger transport, the scope of the Directive should correspond to the scope of the Rhine regime and this omission be made good;

_________________________

(1) OJ C 289, 19.11.1979, p. 25.

(Amendment 4)

ARTICLE 1(10)

Article 19(3a)(new) (Directive 82/714/EEC)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

3a. The Commission shall report to the European Parliament at regular intervals on substantial changes made to the annexes to the Directive.

(Amendment 5)

ARTICLE 2(1)

>Original text>

1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive at the same time not later than 1 July 1998 and forthwith inform the Commission thereof. They shall apply such laws, regulations and administrative provisions from 1 July 1998.

>Text following EP vote>

1.

Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive at the same time not later than one year after publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities and forthwith inform the Commission thereof. They shall apply such laws, regulations and administrative provisions one year after publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

(Amendment 6)

ANNEX

Annex II, Part I, Chapter 1, Article 1.01 (19a) (new) (Directive 82/714/EEC)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

19a. 'passenger sailing vessel¨: a passenger vessel built and fitted out principally to operate under sail.

(Amendment 7)

ANNEX

Annex II, Part II, Chapter 15, Article 15.01a (new) (Directive 82/714/EEC)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Article 15.01a

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Passenger sailing vessels

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

The special provisions for passenger vessels shall not apply to passenger sailing vessels. Modified special provisions shall be laid down for passenger sailing vessels in accordance with the procedures of the committee and shall be included in this Annex.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 82/714/EEC laying down technical requirements for inland waterway vessels (COM(97)0644 - C4-0066/98 - 97/0335(SYN))(Cooperation procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(97)0644 - 97/0335(SYN) ((OJ C 105, 6.4.1998, p. 1.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Articles 189c and 75(1) of the EC Treaty (C4-0066/98),

- having regard to Rule 58 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Transport and Tourism and the opinion of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy (A4-0352/98),

1. Approves the Commission proposal, subject to Parliament's amendments;

2. Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 189a(2) of the EC Treaty;

3. Calls on the Council to incorporate Parliament's amendments in the common position that it adopts in accordance with Article 189c(a) of the EC Treaty;

4. Instructs its President to forward this opinion to the Council and Commission.