WRITTEN QUESTION P-0867/00 by Michael Cashman (PSE) to the Commission. Charter vessels in Greek waters.
Date: 2000-03-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, crew, derogation from EU law, discrimination on the basis of nationality, freedom to provide services, interpretation of the law, regulation (EU), vessel

20.2.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 53 E/35

The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member that for effective competition to develop on
3.
the internal electricity market it is of crucial importance that commercially sensitive business information
is kept secret. That is why the provision in Article 9 of the directive is of eminent importance. The
Commission will ensure that this provision is properly implemented by Member States and also will apply
the competition rules should abuse of dominant position be revealed.

(2001/C 53 E/038)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0867/00

by Michael Cashman (PSE) to the Commission

(16 March 2000)

Subject: Charter vessels in Greek waters

I understand that Greece has a derogation from Council Regulation (EEC) No 3577/92 (1), under Article 6,
paragraph 3, until 1 January 2004.

Does this mean that Greece has the right to allow charter vessels in Greek waters only if they are
registered in Greece (carry a Greek flag) and the skipper is Greek?

(1) OJ L 364, 12.12.1992, p. 7.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(10 April 2000)

Greece enjoys a temporary exemption from the application of Council Regulation (EEC) No 3577/92 of
7 December 1992 applying the principle of freedom to provide services to maritime transport within
Member States (maritime cabotage) until 1 January 2004 for two maritime cabotage sectors which are that
of regular passenger and ferry services and that of services provided with vessels of less than 650 gross
tonnage (gt) in island cabotage.

This means that the Greek authorities may reserve such services to Greek registered vessels, flying the
Greek flag. Charter vessels of less than 650 gt registered in other Member States and flying other Member
States(cid:146) flags may, therefore, be excluded from Greek island cabotage until the above mentioned date.

As regards the requirement that the captain has Greek nationality, the Commission is of the view that this
is not incompatible with Community law. Indeed, taking into account the fact that the captain of the ship
exercises aboard it sovereign powers (concerning, for example,
investigation of crimes committed on
board, respect of discipline as well as powers in relation to the civil status of passengers), the Commission
considers that this post is covered by the derogation of Article 39(3) (ex Article 48) of the EC Treaty
(cf. Commission observations in case Commission/France, C-334/94 (judgement of 7 March 1996)).

(2001/C 53 E/039)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0872/00

by Alejandro Agag Longo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 March 2000)

Subject: Internet in schools

On 28 February this year the Commission sent the President of the Council its contribution with a view to
the forthcoming Lisbon Summit on reform and employment. It mentions, as one of its priorities, that all
schools should have access to the Internet by 2001.