IP/07/377

Brussels, 21 March 2007

Ship classification societies: Commission takes Slovakia to Court of Justice

Today the European Commission announced that it would be taking Slovakia to the European Court of Justice for failing to comply with Community rules on the use of ship classification societies.

Directive 94/57/EC^[1] provides that if Member States decide to authorise organisations to inspect ships and certify their safety, they must entrust these duties only to organisations recognised at Community level. It appears that certain vessels under the Slovak flag have been issued with certificates by Bulgarian and Turkish classification societies that do not have Community recognition.

^[1] Council Directive 94/57/EC on common rules and standards for ship inspection and survey organisations and for the relevant activities of maritime administrations.