Brussels, 27/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament transport and tourism committee (TRAN) has passed two reports on maritime transport. It approved the trialogue agreement on extending the powers of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) (see EUROPE 10457). In so doing, it adopted the draft second reading recommendation by Knut Fleckenstein (S&D, Germany). In future, EMSA will have increased powers in preventing and tackling environmental disasters. Governance of the agency has also been reworked. The revision of the regulation on EMSA will be put to the EP vote at its December plenary session.
The TRAN committee also adopted the draft report amending the legislation on port state control (2009/16/EC) to incorporate the requirements of the International Labour Organisation's maritime labour convention. Vessels entering European ports, no matter the flag state or the nationality of the sailors, will have to comply with the standards set out in the convention. This is a way of tackling social dumping. The draft report will be put forward for approval by the EP at its plenary session of February 2013. (MD/transl.fl)