IP/08/1809

Brussels, 27 November 2008

Maritime safety: Commission takes Estonia and Italy to the European Court of Justice

The European Commission decided today to take Estonia and Italy to Court for failure to transpose legislation on the mutual recognition of seafarers' certificates issued by the Member States.

The Commission has decided to act against Estonia and Italy for failure to fully transpose into national law Directive 2005/45/EC^[1]. The Directive aims to improve the image of European shipping and to attract young people to the seafaring profession. It fosters professional mobility of seafarers within the European Union, with particular emphasis on recognition procedures for seafarers' certificates of competency, while ensuring thorough compliance with the requirements of relevant International Maritime Organisation Conventions.

Member States had until 20 October 2007 to transpose the Directive.

^[1] Directive 2005/45/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on the mutual recognition of seafarers' certificates issued by the Member States and amending Directive 2001/25/EC (OJ L 255, 30.9.2005, p. 160)