Brussels, 24/03/2010 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament transport committee, on Tuesday 23 March, approved (by 36 votes to one, with one abstention) the report by Dirk Sterckx (ALDE, Belgium) on the draft directive on reporting formalities for ships arriving in or leaving European ports (see EUROPE 9823). As recommended, MEPs voted for the adoption of English as the common language to be used in maritime administration. They decided that the deadline for transposition of the text, which they say will simplify and harmonise maritime transport administrative procedures, should be 2013, rather than 2015 as proposed by the EPP Group. In line with European Commission proposals, data will be transmitted electronically and reporting formalities rationalised. The committee also called on the Commission to bring forward a report, by 31 December 2001, on extending the scope of the directive to inland waterways transport. (A.By./transl.rt)