COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 25.03.1998 
COM(1998) 195 final 
96/0240 (SYN) 
OPINION OF THE COMMISSION 
on the amendments proposed by the European Parliament 
to the Council's common position on the 
proposal for a 
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 
amending Directive 94/58/EC on the minimum level of training of seafarers 
(presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 189 c (d) of the EC Treaty) 

OriNlOIilllLlllEJQQMMIJ&IQN 
on the amendments proposed by the European Parliament 
to the Council's common position 
on the proposal for a 
COUNCIL DIKICNVI; 
amending Directive 94/58/EC on the minimum level of training of seafarers 
(presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 189 c (d) of the EC Treaty) 
At its plenary session of 28-29 January 1998, the European parliament approved, subject 
to a number of amendments, the text of the common position adopted by the Council on 
20 October 1997 with in view to adopting Council Directive 98/.../EC of... amending 
Directive 94/58/EC on the minimum level of training of seafarers. 
Parliament's three amendments are given in annex. 
Pursuant lo Article 189 c (d) of the \iC Treaty, the Commission has re-examined its 
proposal and decided not to accept the amendments for the following reasons: 
Amendment n° I is not necessary since the wording of Article 5d(l) proposed by the 
Council is exactly reflecting the text of Regulation 1/9 - paragraph 1 of the revised 
STCW 95. Therefore in accordance with the principle to stick to the provisions of the 
STCW 95 the text as it stands is sufficient. 
Amendment n° 2 adds to paragraph 4 of article 5h a text which is taken from the non-
mandatory Part B of the STCW Code which serves as a guidance to national 
Administrations.The text, as it stands in the common position, corresponds to section A 
VIII/1/3 and the addition requested by this amendment corresponds to B VIII/1/1. In the 
previous discussions in the Parliament and the Council it has been agreed that the 
recommended part B of the Code should not become mandatory under the Articles of the 
amending Directive. The question of the non-mandatory guidance is dealt in recital 7 of 
the Common position which refers to Part B of the STCW. 
Amendment n° 3 deals with the watchkeeping provisions which are not part of the 
existing Directive 94/58. As discussed in the context of the global compromise in the 
Council it was agreed to maintain the spirit of Directive 94/58 dealing with training and 
certification standards of seafarers. 
However article 5h (fitness for duty) of the common position includes the main issue of 
the watchkeeping provisions dealing with the rest periods of watchkeepers. 
Accordingly, the Commission confirms its agreement with the Council's common 
position of 20 October 1997. 
OJC389, 22.12.1997, p. 1 
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 
22 January 1998 
AMENDMENT 1 
tabled by the Committee on Transport and Tourism A4-0411/1 
RECOMMENDATION FOR SECOND READING 
Rapporteur: Mr Parodi 
MINIMUM LEVEL OF TRAINING FOR SEAFARERS (A4-0411/97) 
Common position of the Council 
(C4-0563/97 - 96/0240(SYN)) 
Co nun on position of the Council Amendment 
(Amendment 1) 
ARTICLE 1(4) 
Article 5d(l) (Directive 94/58/EC) 
1. Member States shall establish standards 
of medical fitness for seafarers, particularly 
regarding eyesight and hearing 1. Member States shall establish standards of 
medical fitness for seafarers, particularly 
regarding eyesight and hearing, appropriate to 
the functions, responsibilities and duties to be 
carried out under the highest safety standards. 
G:\AMEND\A4-97\A4-04 1 1 97\001 -003 en 
3 PE 266 020/1 
Or en 
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 
22 January I99X A4-0411/2 
AMENDMENT 2 
tabled by the Committee on Transport and Tourism 
RECOMMENDATION FOR SECOND READING 
Rapporteur: Mr Parodi 
MINIMUM LEVEL OF TRAINING FOR SEAFARERS (A4-0411/97) 
Common position of the Council 
(C4-0563/97 - 96/0240(SYN)) 
Common position of the Council A mend men t 
(Amendment 2) 
ARTICLE 1(4) 
Article 5h(4) (Directive 94/58/EC) 
4. The requirements for rest periods laid 
down in paragraphs 1 and 2 need not be 
maintained in the event of an emergency or 
drill or in other overriding operational 
conditions. 4. The requirements for rest periods laid 
down in paragraphs 1 and 2 need not be 
maintained in the event of an emergency or 
drill or in other overriding operational 
conditions which could not reasonably have 
been anticipated at the commencement of the 
voyage. 
G\AMENI)\A4-97\A4-04I 1.97X001-003 en 
Y Pit 266 020/2 
Or en 
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 
11 Januaiy 1998 A4-0411/3 
AMENDMENT 3 
tabled by the Committee on Transport and Tourism 
RECOMMENDATION FOR SECOND RI-ADING (A4-0411/97) 
Rapporteur: Mr Parodi 
MINIMUM LEVEL OF TRAINING FOR SEAFARERS 
Common position of the Council 
(C4-0563/97 - 96/0240(SYN)) 
Common position of the Council Amendment 
(Amendment 3) 
ARTICLE 1(4) 
Article 5h (2a) (new) (Directive 94/58/EC) 
The following new paragraph 2a is added: 
"2a. Officers in charge of the navigational 
watch who are required to leave the navigating 
bridge in connection with other duties, or at 
the completion of a watch, shall not do so until 
relieved by another officer taking charge of the 
n a v iga t ion a 1 watch and after a proper 
hand over o f the wa t ch ha s JbecjiL completed " 
G:\AMEND\A4-97\A4-04 I 1 97\001 -003 en PE 266.020/3 
Or en 
sT 

ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(98) 195 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 01 07 10 
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