On Monday 23 October, the European Union’s Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) approved three directives to strengthen passenger ship safety.
This Council vote follows a compromise obtained on 14 and 15 June between the European Parliament and the former Maltese Presidency of the Council (see EUROPE 11809). MEPs approved these three proposals for a directive during a European Parliament plenary session on 4 October (see EUROPE 11876). The procedure is therefore closed and the texts will be signed by the two institutions in November.
The first text revising Directive 2009/45/EC on safety rules and standards for passenger ships, explains the technical standards for construction, stability and fire prevention aboard ships. The second draft directive revising Directives 98/41/EC and 2010/65/EC relates to passenger registration and includes a national one-stop shop for electronic communications of data on passengers and crew members undertaking journeys of more than 20 miles, 15 minutes after the ship’s departure. The third proposal approved by the Council on 23 October abrogates Directive 1999/35/EC and amends Directive 2009/16/EC, thus simplifying and harmonising inspections for the safe operation of ro-ro ferries and high-speed passenger craft, particularly by way of reducing administrative procedures.
Estonia's Minister for Economic Affairs and Infrastructure Kadri Simson was keen to thank the former Maltese Presidency of the Council, which had been very active in completing these dossiers, as well as the European Parliament. European Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc also welcomed the adoption of these three draft directives by the EU Council. “The adoption of these new safety rules is an important deliverable in our EU maritime year”, she stated. (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)