WRITTEN QUESTION E-0869/00 by Brian Simpson (PSE) to the Commission. Minimum level of training for seafarers.
Date: 2000-03-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: common transport policy, crew, vocational training

26.1.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 26 E/123

(2001/C 26 E/152)

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 (cid:145)there is an absence of a
quality standard system(cid:146), that most of the selected institutions (cid:145)do not appear to meet international
standards(cid:146) 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(cid:146) 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

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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.

(2001/C 26 E/153)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0873/00

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

(22 March 2000)

Subject: VAT

Since 31 December 1992 we have had a (cid:145)temporary(cid:146) system of indirect taxation in the EU. The European
Parliament has repeatedly pointed to the need for the introduction of a definitive system based on the
principle of taxation in the country of origin. To date there have been only slight changes in the
temporary VAT system.

The smooth operation of the single market would require a definitive system which does not further
distort the free play of the market and hence the best possible allocation of resources. However, the
Commission(cid:146)s work programme for 2000 does not seem to envisage any measures to this end. Does the
Commission still want to introduce a definitive and efficient VAT system? What are the reasons for its
apparent immobility?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(28 April 2000)

The Commission shares the Honourable Member(cid:146)s view that only the introduction of a definitive system of
VAT, based on the principle of taxation in the Member State of origin, will ensure smooth operation of the
single market by enabling transactions in the Community to be treated in the same way as domestic
transactions in a Member State. Such a definitive, origin-based system is administratively simple enough to
satisfy traders and tax administrations while being effective in combating fraud and tax evasion.

When the temporary system was adopted, the Council gave a legal and political undertaking to move
towards introducing the definitive system within five years. In 1996, to overcome reservations expressed
by the Member States, the Commission presented a communication in which it proposed a gradual, stage
by stage movement to the definitive system (1).

Since then,
Commission with regard to VAT have largely failed.

it must be said, no notable progress has been made, and the proposals presented by the

On 29 March 2000 the Commission, acknowledging this situation, adopted the principle of a new strategy
which is intended to give priority to improving the existing system, without in any way abandoning the
longer term objective of a definitive origin-based system (2).

In the short term, we will have to relaunch discussions on proposals before the Council aimed at
simplifying the existing rules and applying them more uniformly, adapting Community legislation to the
demands of the new economy, for example electronic commerce and postal services, and reactivating and
reinforcing administrative cooperation in this field.

If we achieve these objectives we will create the conditions in the longer term for the move to a definitive
VAT system, which continues to be our goal.

(1) COM(96) 328 final.
(2) SEC(2000) 528.