WRITTEN QUESTION E-1726/01 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Training of seafarers.
Date: 2001-06-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, International Maritime Organisation, crew, maritime transport, national implementing measure, ship's passport, vocational training

18.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 93 E/23

5. Without any possibility left to determine interest rates to match the needs of single Member States,
other measures have to be chosen (e.g. fiscal policy, structural policy, wage adjustment). Such measures
can tend to affect the profitability of investments and thus the attractiveness of doing business in the
country looked at. In that sense there is a possibility to affect the expected real rates of return and to have
an impact on relative growth performance in an economy with a single currency.

(2002/C 93 E/025)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1726/01

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(14 June 2001)

Subject: Training of seafarers

The German Automobile Association (ADAC) has carried out a survey of Greek ferries, making a positive
assessment in its subsequent report. However, apart from the positive comments, the results of the extra
emergency drills which were held specially for the Greek crews were found to be disappointing. These
results are attributable to inadequate crew training and the fact that the regular training exercises take
place only on paper and not in practice.

In the light of the fact that a warning letter was sent to Greece on 20 August 1999 concerning the
implementation of Directive 98/53/EC (1) on the minimum level of
the
Commission say to what extent that Directive is implemented in Greece? Does the Commission consider
that Greece has complied with the abovementioned letter?

training of seafarers, will

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

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(6 September 2001)

In order to improve the safety of maritime transport and establish a minimum level of training of seafarers
in the Community, on 21 November 1994 the Council adopted Directive 94/58/EC of 22 November 1994
on the minimum level of training of seafarers (1). This was amended by Council Directive 98/35/EC of
25 May 1998 (2) and, on 4 April 2001, Parliament and the Council adopted Directive 2001/25/EC on the
minimum level of training of seafarers (3), consolidating and repealing the two earlier directives.

These texts apply to seafarers serving on board vessels designed for maritime navigation and flying the flag
of a Member State. The provisions concerning the training required in order to obtain the certificate are
based on those of the IMO Convention on standards of training for seafarers (STCW Convention, 1978).

As regards the transposition of these texts by Greece, the Commission has instituted procedures for failure
to notify national transposition measures within the time limits set for each of the two directives.
Following the notifications of transposition of the texts into Greek legislation, these two procedures were
shelved in December 1996 and March 2000 respectively.

In the framework of examining the conformity of the measures notified by the Greek authorities, the
Commission opened a procedure concerning the effective transposition into Greek law of obligations to
control communications among crew members and with the passengers, especially in critical situations.
The Greek authorities gave satisfactory explanations regarding the interpretation of Presidential Decree
210/96 and the Commission was able to shelve the dossier in December 1998.

Finally, according to the information communicated to the Commission by the Greek authorities in
October 2000, control of conformity and application of the measures undertaken to transpose the
directives has been entrusted to the merchant shipping inspectorate and the port authorities. These two

C 93 E/24

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2002

services are authorised to inspect ships and their crews and they can take any steps necessary to ensure
that the obligations arising out of these texts on minimum training levels for seafarers are complied with,
particularly if crews are unable to show that they have the necessary professional aptitude.

(1) OJ L 319, 12.12.1994.
(2) OJ L 172, 17.6.1998.
(3) OJ L 136, 18.5.2001.

(2002/C 93 E/026)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1734/01

by Christine De Veyrac (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Measures to promote mutual recognition of qualifications

(14 June 2001)

On 5 October 2000 the European Parliament adopted its position at first reading on mobility within the
Community for students, persons undergoing training, volunteers, teachers and trainers. It stressed the
improving the existing procedures to facilitate mutual recognition of diplomas and
importance of
qualifications and called on the Commission to play an active role in the mutual recognition of
qualifications.

On 14 December 2000 the Council and the representatives of the Member State Governments, meeting in
Council, adopted a resolution concerning an action plan to promote mobility. This action plan includes
provisions designed to make best use of the experience gained in the framework of mobility, particularly
measures to promote mutual recognition of qualifications.

Despite the measures taken to promote mobility, I receive complaints from teachers who have been unable
to have experience gained in the context of mobility recognised in their country of origin. This does not
help to bring Europe closer to its citizens. It is time that citizens of the Union could rely on genuine
recognition of the experience they have gained in the context of mobility.

What measures does the Commission intend to take to reinforce the measures to promote mobility and, in
particular, measures to encourage a lifting of
recognition of
qualifications?

the remaining obstacles to mutual

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(24 September 2001)

The Council’s Common Position (EC) No 7/2001 of 19 January 2001 on the Recommendation on
mobility (1) largely incorporates the amendments which Parliament voted for at first reading. Parliament’s
report at second reading, of 14 May 2001, then introduced some amendments to take account of the
Mobility Action Plan (MAP), which had been adopted after the first reading. The Education Council
reached agreement on this report on 28 May 2001, paving the way for formal adoption of
the
Recommendation.

Once this has been adopted, the Commission and the Member States will have two further instruments at
their disposal, the Recommendation and the Action Plan. This will help to achieve wider and more flexible
mobility, including taking account of the experience gained from mobility under education, training and
youth programmes, both for teachers and trainers and for the other target groups involved: students,
persons undergoing training and volunteers.

These instruments call on the Member States to take the necessary measures to:

@ promote consideration of European mobility experience as a component of the careers of teachers and

trainers (measure I. 5 d);