COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 12.06.1996 
COM(96) 281 final 
94/0196 (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 
ON THE HARMONIZATION OF THE CONDITIONS FOR OBTAINING 
NATIONAL BOATMASTERS' CERTIFICATES 
FOR THE CARRIAGE OF GOODS AND PASSENGERS 
BY INLAND WATERWAY IN THE COMMUNITY 
(presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 189 c (d) of the EC Treaty) 

COMMISSION OPINION 
on the amendments proposed by the European Parliament 
to the common position of the Council 
on the proposal for a 
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 
ON THE HARMONIZATION OF THE CONDITIONS FOR OBTAINING 
NATIONAL BOATMASTERS' CERTIFICATES 
FOR THE CARRIAGE OF GOODS AND PASSENGERS 
BY INLAND WATERWAY IN THE COMMUNITY 
On 9 May 1996 Parliament proposed amendments to the common position adopted by the 
Council on the abovementioned proposal on 8 December 1995. The five amendments 
proposed by Parliament are annexed. 
Pursuant to Article 189c(d) of the EC Treaty, the Commission has re-examined its 
proposal and decided not to incorporate these amendments for the following reasons: 
The amendments are not in line with the compromises accepted by the Commission at 
Council level. Most of them are designed to restore the Commission's original text or 
are identical to the amendments proposed at first reading, despite the fact that they were 
refused by the Council and the Commission accepted its refusal. The Commission also 
notes that there is no amendment expressing Parliament's position on the new provisions 
added by the Council's common position. 
Consequently, the Commission confirms its agreement with the Council's common 
position of 8 December 1995. 
Annex: 5 amendments 
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 
1996 - 1997 SESSION 
Decision of the European Parliament on the common position established by the 
Council with a view to the adoption of a Directive on the harmonization of the 
conditions for obtaining national boat-Masters' certificates for the carriage 
of goods and passengers by inland waterway in the Community (A4-0128/96 -
C4-0068/96). 
EXTRACT 
FROM THE MINUTES 
OF THE SITTING OF 
9 May 1996 
PE 166.020 
Boatmasters' certificates **II 
A4^0128/96 
Decision on the common position established by the Council with a view to the 
adoption of a Council Directive on the harmonization of the conditions for 
obtaining national boatmasters ' certificates for the carriage of goods and 
passengers by inland waterway in the Community(C4-0068/96 - 94/0196(SYN) ) 
(Cooperation procedure: second reading) 
The European Parliament. 
having regard to the common position of the Council, C4-0068/96 -
94/0196(SYN), 
having regard to its opinion at first reading1 on the Commission proposal 
to the Council, COM(94)03592, 
having regard to the amended Commission proposal, COM(95)04743, 
having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 189c of the EC 
Treaty, 
having regard to Rule 67 of its Rules of Procedure, 
having regard to the recommendation for second reading of the Committee on 
Transport and Tourism (A4-0128/96), 
1. Amends the common position as follows; 
2. Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Council and 
Commission. 
Common position of the Council Amendments by Parliament 
(Amendment 1) 
Recital 5 
Whereas the main objective of these 
common provisions must be to improve 
the safety of navigation and the 
protection of human life; whereas it 
appears therefore essential that 
these provisions establish the 
minimum requirements which the 
applicant must meet in order to 
obtain the boatmasters' certificate 
for inland navigation; Whereas the main objective of these 
common provisions must be to improve 
the safety of navigation and the 
protection of human life; whereas it 
appears therefore essential that 
these provisions establish the 
minimum requirements which the 
applicant must meet in order to 
obtain the boatmasters' certificate 
for inland navigation; whereas 
provision must be made to ensure that 
the Member States adopt similar 
procedures for examining knowledge 
and skills; 
1 OJ C 68, 20.3.1995, p. 41. 
2 OJ C 280, 6.10.1994, p. 5. 
3 OJ C 20, 24.1.1996, p. 7. L 
(Amendment 3) 
Article 6(2) 
2. On reaching the age of sixty-five 
years, the holder of a certificate 
must, in the following three months 
and subsequently every year, undergo 
the examination referred to in 
paragraph 1 ; the competent authority 
shall attest on the certificate that 
the boatmaster has satisfied this 
obligation. 2. On reaching the age of sixty-five 
years, the holder of a certificate 
must, in the following three months 
and subsequently every three years. 
undergo the examination referred to 
in paragraph 1 ; the competent 
authority shall attest on the 
certificate that the boatmaster has 
satisfied this obligation. 
(Amendment 4) 
Article 7(3) and (4) and (4a) (new) 
3. The minimum duration of the 
professional experience referred to 
in paragraph 1 may be reduced by a 
maximum of three years: 
(a) where the applicant has a diploma 
recognized by the competent 
authority which confirms 
specialized training in inland 
navigation comprising practical 
navigation work, the reduction 
may not be greater than the 
duration of the specialized 
training; or 
(b) where the applicant can provide 
proof of professional experience 
acquired on a seagoing vessel as 
a member of the deck crew; in 
order to obtain the maximum 
reduction of three years, the 
applicant must provide proof of 
at least four years' experience 
in maritime navigation. 
4. The minimum duration of 
professional experience provided for 
in paragraph 1 may be reduced by a 
maximum of three years where the 
applicant has passed a practical 
examination in sailing a vessel; the 
certificate shall in that case cover 
only vessels with nautical 
characteristics similar to those of 
the vessel which underwent the 
practical examination. 3. The minimum duration of the 
professional experience referred to 
in paragraph 1 may be reduced by a 
maximum of two years : 
(a) where the applicant has a diploma 
recognized by the competent 
authority which confirms 
specialized training in inland 
navigation comprising practical 
navigation work, the reduction 
may not be greater than the 
duration of the specialized 
training; or 
(b) where the applicant can provide 
proof of professional experience 
acquired on a seagoing vessel as 
a member of the deck crew; in 
order to obtain the maximum 
reduction of two years, the 
applicant must provide .proof of 
at least four years' experience 
in maritime navigation. 
4. The minimum duration of 
professional experience provided for 
in paragraph 1 may be reduced by a 
maximum of two years where the 
applicant has passed a practical 
examination in sailing a vessel; the 
certificate shall in that case cover 
only vessels with nautical 
characteristics similar to those of 
the vessel which underwent the 
practical examination. In this case 
the competent authority shall 
indicate that its validity is limited 
until the holder has four years' 
professional experience. 
5 
4a. The time which an applicant has 
spent, after reaching the age of 
twenty-one years, as a member of the 
deck crew of an inland navigation 
vessel shall be multiplied by 1.5 in 
order to calculate the number of 
years of professional experience. 
(Amendment 5) 
Article 8(2) 
2. Subject to consultation of the 
Commission, a Member State may 
require a boatmaster to satisfy 
additional requirements concerning 
knowledge of the local situation for 
navigation of certain waterways, with 
the exception of the waterways of a 
maritime character referred to in 
Annex II to Directive 91/672/EEC. 2. Subject 
Commission, 
require a 
additional to 
a approval by the 
may Member State 
boatmaster to satisfy 
requirements concerning 
knowledge of the local situation for 
navigation of certain waterways, with 
the exception of the waterways of a 
maritime character referred to in 
Annex II to Directive 91/672/EEC. 
Subject to the same reservation, a 
Member state may require the 
boatmaster of a passenger vessel, in 
certain limited areas, to have more 
detailed professional knowledge of 
special provisions relating to 
passenger safety, particularly in the 
event of accidents, fire or 
shipwreck. Subject to the same reservation, a 
Member state may require the 
boatmaster of a passenger vessel, in 
certain limited areas, to have more 
detailed professional knowledge of 
special provisions relating to 
passenger safety, particularly in the 
event of accidents, fire or 
shipwreck. 
(Amendment 6) 
Article 10a (new) 
In order to harmonize the examination 
syllabuses and" procedures, the 
Commission shall encourage the 
competent authorities of the Member 
States to consult each other at least 
once a year on the examination 
requirements and regulations. 
ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(96) 281 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 06 07 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-96-288-EN-C 
ISBN 92-78-05545-X 
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