A4-0075/99

Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 3577/92 applying the principle of freedom to provide services to maritime transport within Member States (maritime cabotage)(COM(98)0251 - C4-0423/98 - 98/0158(SYN))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

ARTICLE 1

Article 3(1) (Regulation (EEC) No 3577/92)

>Original text>

(1) For vessels carrying out cabotage services other than those referred to in paragraph 2, all matters related to manning shall be the responsibility of the State in which the vessel is registered (flag State), except for ships smaller than 650 gt, where the conditions in force in the State in which the vessel is performing its services (host State) may be applied.

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

(Amendment 2)

ARTICLE 1

Article 3(2) (Regulation (EEC) No 3577/92)

>Original text>

(2) For vessels carrying out regular passenger and ferry services, including mixed passenger/cargo services and scheduled cruise services, the rules concerning the required proportion of Community nationals in the crew (namely all staff employed on board) as in force in the host State shall apply. All other matters relating to manning shall be the responsibility of the flag State.

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

(Amendment 3)

ARTICLE 1

Article 3(3) (Regulation (EEC) No 3577/92)

>Original text>

(3) Where host States allow third-country nationals to be employed on board ships carrying out cabotage services as referred to in paragraph 2, they shall require that those crew members shall be treated in the terms and conditions of their employment as residents of the Member State being the flag State. The host State shall apply its own terms and conditions of employment to non-member-country seafarers on board its national vessels carrying out such services.

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

(Amendment 4)

ARTICLE 1

Article 3(3a) (new) (Regulation (EEC) No 3577/92)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

(3a) The Commission shall review the economic and social impact of the liberalisation of island cabotage and shall submit a report to the Council and the European Parliament before 1 January 2001 at the latest.

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

On the basis of this report, the Commission shall submit a proposal to the Council and the European Parliament with a view to setting up the definitive system which shall be approved by the Council and the Parliament in due time and before 1 January 2003.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 3577/92 applying the principle of freedom to provide services to maritime transport within Member States (maritime cabotage) (COM(98)0251 - C4-0423/98 - 98/0158(SYN))(Cooperation procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(98)0251 - 98/0158(SYN)( ((OJ C 213, 9.7.1998, p. 16.))),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Articles 189c and 84(2) of the EC Treaty (C4-0423/98),

- 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 Employment and Social Affairs (A4-0075/99),

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. Calls for the conciliation procedure to be opened should the Council intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

5. Asks to be consulted again should the Council intend to make substantial modifications to the Commission proposal;

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