06/12/2004 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Commission authorised Finland to amend its Finnish Foreign Merchant Shipping Registry Act in order to ensure the owners of Finnish vessels benefit from tax advantages. The aim is to safeguard the employment of seafarers from the European Economic Area and to combat unfair competition from third countries. Changes to the Finnish regime, approved by the Commission, concern an exemption for Finnish ship-owners from paying the income taxes...