No C 318/18 Official Journal of the European Communities 12. 12. 88 
2. The Committee accordingly approves the pro­
posal for a Decision, subject to the following comments. 
2.1. First of all it is regrettable that Austria has not 
so far decided to accede to the agreement. In its Opinion 
of 23 March 1988 (!) the Committee drew attention to 
the importance of, and the need for, involvement of 
Austria, Switzerland and Yugoslavia in Community 
transit traffic. The Committee therefore calls upon the 
Commission to do everything in its power to persuade 
Austria to accede to the agreement. 
2.2. As regards the Protocol concerning the appli­
cation of Article 3, paragraph 2 b), in the territory of 
the European Economic Community, the Committee 
would welcome the earliest possible application of the 
Article in question. 2.3. The Committee interprets Article 2 (l)(a), 
second paragraph, as meaning that containers belong­
ing to firms established outside the territory of the 
Contracting Parties are also covered by the liberaliza­
tion provisions, provided the maximum dimensions of 
the swap bodies or containers do not exceed those laid 
down in current Community regulations. 
2.4. It is regrettable that the Agreement does not 
cover carriage by inland waterway as referred to in 
Directives 82/603/EEC and 86/544/EEC(2). 
0) OJ No C 134, 24. 5. 1988, p. 19. (2) Council Directives of 28 July 1982 and 10 November 1986 
amending Directive 75/130/EEC on the establishment of com­
mon rules for certain types of combined carriage of goods 
between Member States (OJ No L 247 of 23. 8. 1982, p. 6; 
OJ No L 320 of 15. 11. 1986, p. 33). 
Done at Brussels, 28 September 1988. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alfons MARGOT 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive on the reciprocal recognition of national 
boatmasters' certificates for the carriage of goods by inland navigation (*) 
(88/C 318/08) 
On 5 May 1988 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under 
Article 75 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, on the above-
mentioned proposal. 
The section for transport and communications, which was responsible for preparing the 
Committee's work on the subject, adopted its Opinion on 14 September 1988. The rapporteur 
was Mr Tukker. 
At its 258th plenary session (meeting of 28 September 1988) the Economic and Social 
Committee unanimously adopted the following Opinion. 
1. General Comments 
1.1. (Paragraph A.l of the Commission document) 
The first of the general points in the Explanatory Mem­
orandum raises two questions: 
1. To which Community countries does the Direc­
tive apply? 
OJ No C 120, 7. 5. 1988, p. 7. 2. Is reciprocal recognition of national boatmas­
ters' certificates really necessary? 
Re: question 1: Although not explicity stated, it is clear 
from the text that the Directive applies only to those 
countries also covered by document COM(88) 111 final 
(reorganization of the inland waterways fleet). If this 
is in fact the case, the countries concerned (France, 
Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg) 
should be mentioned by name. 
12. 12. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 318/19 
Re: question 2: This question is dealt with below. 
1.2. (Paragraph A.2) 
The Rhine navigation licence covering the Rhine itself 
and a number of tributaries (Neckar, Main and Mosel­
le) is valid only between Basel and the Spijk ferry, i.e. 
not for the Dutch part of the Rhine, i.e. the Lek and 
the Waal. 
This is surprising, since freedom of Rhine navigation 
was established by the 1868 Mannheim Act from Basel 
to the sea. The Commission's first task could therefore 
be to ask the Central Rhine Commission in Strasbourg 
to take steps to extend the validity of the Rhine navi­
gation licence to the sea. 
This should be no problem as present wording of the 
licence already covers the Rhine as far as the sea. The 
Dutch government might make difficulties, however. 
1.3. (Paragraphs A3, A.4) 
For the purposes of clarification Appendix I to this 
Opinion contains a list of existing boatmasters' certifi­
cates and their validity. This makes it absolutely clear 
how confused the current situation is. Only Germany 
and France have reorganized their certificate systems. 
A certificate does exist in the Netherlands, but it is not 
(yet) compulsory. Certificates are not needed in Belgium 
and Luxembourg. 
1.4. (Paragraphs A.5, A.6) 
Things being as they are, is there really any point in 
attempting to achieve reciprocal recognition of certifi­
cates which do not yet have any legal force, if indeed 
they exist at all. 
It would make more sense for the Commission to 
attempt to ensure that existing gaps are filled and to 
encourage the Member States to introduce boatmasters' 
certificates as soon as possible. It might be a good idea 
for the Commission to set a deadline for this. Care 
must be taken to ensure uniformity of the requirements 
Done at Brussels, 28 September 1988. and rules. It is important that the criteria to be met by 
the certificates should first be established (e.g. using the 
Rhine navigation certificate as a model). 
2. Specific comments 
2.1. (Paragraph B.4) 
It must be ensured that the conditions for the issue 
of a boatmasters' certificate are as stringent as those 
attached to the Rhine navigation certificate. 
3. Directive 
3.1. [Article 3 (5)] 
60 m should be amended to read 55 m. 
3.2. [Article 3 (6)] 
'Subject to consultation of the Commission' should be 
replaced by 'Subject to authorization by the Com­
mission ...'. 
Add to the end of 3 (6): 
'The waterways in question are: the Elbe, the Weser 
and the Danube.' 
3.3. (Articled 
Does not apply to English text. 
Add to the end of Article 4 the words '..., except 
for those waterways covered by the Rhine navigation 
certificate'. 
4. Appendix 
Does not apply to English text. 
Expand the text to include the content of Appendix to 
this Opinion. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alfons MARGOT 
c^oCM^A^ ^hc^ljourn^lotrh^Euroo^nC^ornrnuniric^ 1^1^^ 
A^^^^X 
List of national and internaUonalboatmasters certificates ^or the carnage of goods by i^andwatet^ay 
Rhine navigation 
Rhine navigation certificate 
Valid for the Rhine and its tributaries the ^eckarmhe Main and the Moselle from Basel to the Spi^k Ferry 
^at the GermanOutch frontiers 
This certificate is compulsory for vessels of more than t^ tonnes carrying capacity or^Om^ displacement. 
^ot valid for the Flbe^eser and Oanube. 
Germany 
navigation certificate inland navigation certificate decree of^tOecemberf^t^ 
CompulsoryonGermannversandcanalsinthe absence ofaRhine navigation certificate. Otherwise not 
required. 
^n additional local certificate is required for the Flbe^^eser and Oanube. 
Netherlands 
^boatmaster^scertificateexistsbutit isnotcompulsory asthelaw inquestionhasnotyetentered into 
force. 
Belgium 
e^one. 
Luxembourg 
^one. 
France 
on all inland waterways for vessels of up to^min length and^ortt^mm breadth. 
for vessels and multiple barge convoys longer than^mor wider than tL^m. 
Expert knowledge is required on the Seine between Rouen and Le Havre.Otherwiseapilot must be taken 
onboard.