WRITTEN QUESTION E-0869/00

by Brian Simpson (PSE) to the Commission

(22 March 2000)

Subject: Minimum level of training for seafarers

Could the Commission indicate which Member States are enforcing Article 9(3) and (4) of Council Directive 98/35/EC(1) regarding the minimum level of training of seafarers?

Secondly, could the Commission confirm that at a meeting set up under Article 13 of Directive 94/58/EC(2) held on 10 November 1999 it was pointed out that in the Philippines there is an absence of a quality standard system, that most of the selected institutions do not appear to meet international standards and that, in fact, only one institute out of 130 is up to standard?

Can the Commission indicate what it intends to do about this disgraceful state of affairs?

(1) OJ L 172, 17.6.1998, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 110, 28.4.1999, p. 35.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(2 May 2000)

The Commission is currently examining the national implementation measures notified by most Member States in order to assess conformity with the provisions of Council Directive 98/35/EC of 25 May 1998 on minimum level of training of seafarers(1).

During the 2nd meeting of the committee set up under Article 13 of Council Directive 94/58/EC of 22 November 1994(2) in November 1999, the Commission presented briefly the major findings of a study made by the World Maritime University (WMU) in Sweden in July 1998, aimed at assessing the extent to which the maritime education and training (MET) systems in the major labour-supplying Asian countries (China, Indian, Indonesia and Philippines) comply with the requirements of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) for Seafarers, 1978, as amended in 1995. As regards the Philippines, the study examined six MET institutions indicated by the national authorities as most complying with international standards.

According to the results of the study, maritime education and training in the Philippines is mostly a private sector activity as very few MET institutions are owned by the government. The major problems highlighted in the study are related to the lack of qualified teaching staff, the inadequate training equipment, as well as the absence of a quality standards system. Most of the establishments analysed in the study do not meet international standards while very few institutions out of over a hundred involved in training in the whole country comply with the international requirements.

Nevertheless, the Philippines authorities have confirmed to the Commission that the government had taken measures to redress the situation and that substantial improvements have been realised since the WMU survey.

In compliance with the provisions of Directive 98/35/EC, the Commission is assisting Member States in the evaluation of third countries' certificates by identifying MET institutes satisfying the STCW standards and requirements. In this context, the Commission has launched another study in order to analyse the MET systems of Russia, Poland, Ukraine, Croatia and the Baltic countries. Moreover, as agreed in the last committee meeting,

the Commission will establish an ad hoc group of national experts and Commission representatives to evaluate the maritime training and certification systems of the main maritime labour supplying third countries, by carrying out on the spot visits. The Philippines is one of the priority countries to be considered by the group.

(1) OJ L 172, 17.6.1998 amending Council Directive 94/58/EC.

(2) OJ L 319, 12.12.1994.