Brussels, 13/12/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Commission approved the fiscal package aimed at replacing the normal corporation tax by a tax based on the tonnage of the fleet for maritime companies engaged in international traffic. It considers that the intended scheme meets all the requirements laid down in the Community guidelines on State aid to maritime transport and that it will benefit the employment of seafarers in the EU and contribute to improving the competitiveness of the Irish merchant fleet. Ireland is the eighth Member State, after Greece, the Netherlands, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain and Finland to adopt a tonnage tax.