Strasbourg, 24/02/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Parliament approved the report by the German MEP Renate Sommer (EPP-ED) on the proposed directive to change and harmonise information services on the inland waterways of the EU (River Information Services- RIS). The Parliament also approved a compromise text drawn up by the Council at an informal trialogue on 1 February (codecision). The Council must now formally approve the compromise to allow the directive to be adopted at first reading.
The objective of the proposal is to allow the continuous and harmonious use of the RIS across the borders of the EU to make maritime transport more effective and competitive. To this end, it obliges the Member States to take the measures needed to put these RISs into place, providing users with all relevant information on inland navigation in the EU. Although the Commission's initial text make satellite use obligatory to feed into these information services, the compromise text goes no further than to recommend the use of this technology. Furthermore, it stipulates that when the Commission lays down the requirements and necessary technical specifications to ensure that these RISs are interoperable, it will do so taking “due account (…) of the measures taken by competent international organisations” such as the Permanent International Association of Navigation Congresses (PIANC), the Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
The Commission will report back on the implementation of the provisions of the directive within three years of its entry into force.