7. 5. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 120/7 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
COMMISSION 
Proposal for a Council Directive on the reciprocal recognition of national boatmasters' 
certificates for the carriage of goods by inland navigation 
COM(88) 171 final 
(Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 21 April 1988) 
(88/C 120/10) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Article 75 
thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European 
Parliament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and 
Social Committee, 
Whereas it is appropriate to work for the establishment 
of a uniform boatmasters' certificate for inland 
waterways in the Community; 
Whereas, pending establishment of such a certificate, it is 
appropriate, as a first step, with a view to promoting free 
navigation on inland waterways in the Community, to 
achieve the reciprocal recognition of national boat-
masters' certificates for the carriage of goods by inland 
waterway; 
Whereas additional requirements relating to knowledge 
of local situations may have to be satisfied for the 
purposes of navigation on certain inland waterways, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: 
Article 1 
For the purposes of this Directive, the general boat-
masters' certificates for the carriage of goods by inland 
waterway, as referred to in Annex I, shall be subdivided 
as follows: 
Group A: 
boatmasters' certificates valid for waterways of a 
maritime character as indicated in Annex II, 
Group B: 
boatmasters' certificates valid for the other waterways 
in the Community, with the exception of the Rhine, 
including the Lek and the Waal. Article 2 
Subject to the provisions of Article 3 (6), the Rhine navi­
gation licence for boatmasters issued in accordance with 
the revised convention for the Navigation of the Rhine 
shall be valid for all waterways in the Community, with 
the exception of waterways of a maritime character in 
the Federal Republic of Germany as indicated in Annex 
II. 
Article 3 
1. Without prejudice to the provisions of paragraphs 3 
and 4, each Member State shall recognize the validity of 
boatmasters' certificates issued by another Member State 
for the purposes of navigation on waterways of a 
maritime character as listed in Group A in Annex I as if 
it had issued the certificates in question itself. 
2. Without prejudice to the provisions of paragraphs 3 
to 6, each Member State shall recognize, with regard to 
navigation on inland waterways where the Rhine navi­
gation licence is not required and which are not listed in 
Annex II, the validity of boatmasters' certificates relating 
to Group B in Annex I issued by another Member State 
as if it had issued the certificates in question itself. 
3. Paragraphs 1 and 2 shall apply only to the extent to 
which the boatmasters' certificate is still valid in the 
Member State of issue. 
4. Paragraphs 1 and 2 shall apply where the holder of 
the boatmasters' certificate is at least 21 years old. 
5. Recognition by other Member States of the French 
'Certificat General Categorie A' as indicated in the list in 
Group B shall be confined to vessels whose length does 
not exceed 60 metres. 
6. Subject to consultation of the Commission and the 
other Member States, a Member State may require that, 
for the purposes of navigation on certain waterways 
other than the waterways of a maritime character as 
indicated in Annex II, boatmasters from other Member 
No C 120/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 7. 5. 88 
States satisfy additional conditions concerning Article 5 
knowledge of the local situation equivalent to those w i o , ,, , .. . . 
required for its national boatmasters. ^^r^'oo L T m 8°0<? "^ ""1 ^ ^ 
than 1 July 1988, the laws, regulations and admini­
strative provisions necessary to comply with this 
Article 4 Directive. They shall forthwith inform the Commission 
As soon as possible, the Council, acting on a proposal er 
from the Commission, shall adopt common provisions 
concerning the establishment of a Community boat- Article 6 
master's certificate for the carriage of goods by inland 
waterway. This Directive is addressed to the Member States. 
ANNEX I 
List of national boatmasters* certificates for the carriage of goods by inland waterway 
(Article 1 of the Directive) 
GROUP A. 
Federal Republic of Germany 
— 'Schifferpatent' with additional validity for the 'Seeschiffahrtstrassen' (Binnenschifferpatent-
verordnung7. 12. 1981) 
Kingdom of the Netherlands 
— 'Groot Vaarbewijs II' (Binnenschepenwet, Staatsblad 1981, nr. 678) 
GROUP B. 
Federal Republic of Germany 
— 'Schifferpatent' (Binnenschifferpatentverordnung 7. 12. 1981) 
French Republic 
— 'Certificat General de Capacite Categorie A' (Arrete du 3. 6. 1985 Journal Officiel du 28. 6. 1985) 
— 'Certificat special de Capacite Categorie CP' (Arrete du 3. 6. 1985 Journal Officiel du 28. 6. 1985) 
Kingdom of the Netherlands 
— 'Groot Vaarbewijs P (Binnenschepenwet, Staatsblad 1981, nr. 678) 
ANNEX II 
List of waterways of a maritime character 
(Article 2 of the Directive) 
Federal Republic of Germany 
Zone. 1 and zone 2 of Annex I of the Directive 82/714/EEC. 
Kingdom of the Netherlands 
Dollard, Eems, Waddensea, Ijsselmeer, Eastern and Western Scheldt.