WRITTEN QUESTION E-3719/98

by Giuseppe Rauti (NI) to the Commission

(11 December 1998)

Subject: Postponement till 2004 of the liberalisation of cabotage in Italy

Is the Commission aware of the dramatic situation with which Italy will be faced following the new legislation on European cabotage which will enter into force on 1 January 1999? The projected "liberalisation" does not cover Greece - which secured postponement till 2004 - with the result that Greece is preparing to "colonise" Italian cabotage, which accounts for 80 % of passenger cabotage and 45 % of goods cabotage and which will be "liberalised" on 1 January. This is a sector which in Italy (see the article by Giorgio Lonardi in "La Repubblica" of 17 inst., p. 35) employs '15 000 seamen engaged on 470 vessels', not to mention "the 2 000 shore-based workers and the 29 000 auxiliary workers", so that Italy stands to lose a 5 000 billion annual turnover to Greece, a country which violates the rules on competition by recruiting ill-assorted crews composed of non-Community nationals compelled to work in conditions of virtual slavery.

Would it not be fair, not to say ethically and socially correct, to impose on Greece the same timescale as for Italy or to postpone the entry into force of the new legislation till 2004 for Italy as well?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(18 January 1999)

The Commission does not agree with the Honourable Member's analysis of the situation.

Firstly, Regulation (EEC) 3577/92 applying the principle of freedom to provide services to maritime transport within Member States (maritime cabotage)(1) allows for the imposition of host State conditions for all matters relating to manning on Community shipowners carrying out island cabotage services, and the Italian legislation does not allow third country nationals to be employed on board vessels carrying out cabotage. In addition, such Community shipowners will have to comply with all conditions for carrying out cabotage in the Member State of registration of the vessel. The Greek legislation similarly provides that only Greek or Community nationals may be employed on vessels carrying out cabotage. Therefore, Greek shipowners will not be able to employ vessels manned by third country nationals in Italian island cabotage.

Secondly, according to the two reports drawn up by the Commission in 1995(2) and in 1997(3) on the implementation of Regulation (EEC) 3577/92, the participation of non-national Community vessels in the liberalised sectors of cabotage in the five Southern Member States has been very marginal. It is, therefore, highly unlikely that there will be any development resembling a "colonisation" of Italian island cabotage by the fleet of any Member State.

The Council Regulation is binding in its entirety. The Commission is not empowered to impose shorter deadlines nor to prolong transitional periods which have been decided by the Council.

(1) OJ L 364, 12.12.1992.

(2) Report from the Commission to the Council on the implementation of Regulation (EEC) 3577/92 applying the principle of freedom to provide services to maritime transport within Member States - 1993-1994 - COM(95) 383 final.

(3) Report from the Commission to the Council on the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) 3577/92 applying the freedom to provide services to maritime cabotage (1995-1996) and on the economic and social impact of the liberalisation of island cabotage - COM(97) 296 final.