Brussels, 25/04/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 25 April, the European Commission sent reasoned opinions to the United Kingdom, Romania, Germany, Hungary and Lithuania for infringements committed under European legislation on maritime transport. If the Commission does not receive satisfactory responses to these reasoned opinions in the next two months, the member states concerned could find themselves referred to the European Court of Justice.
The United Kingdom and Romania have received reasoned opinions for not having correctly transposed European rules into national law on reporting formalities for ships. The deadline for implementation of Directive 2010/65/EU was 19 May 2012. The objective was to simplify and harmonise the administrative procedures applied to maritime transport.
Germany was sent a reasoned opinion for non application of the directive on enhancing port security rules (2005/65/EC) in its ports in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (in Rostock, in particular).
Hungary has not implemented Directive 96/68/EC on marine equipment and is subsequently compromising the uniform application of maritime security in Europe.
Lithuania must respond to a reasoned opinion for maintaining a priority right for cargo-handling operators to renew their port contract upon its expiry. The Commission considers that such a provision may lead to discrimination against operators from other member states wishing to establish themselves in Lithuania. (MD/transl.fl)