Brussels, 14/12/2006 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission decided, on 12 December, to lodge two cases against Portugal for failure to respect Community legislation on maritime safety with the European Court of Justice (ECJ). The Commission has decided to act against Portugal for failure to transpose directive 2005/23 on the minimum training requirements for seafarers serving on board European ships. The directive should have been transposed by 29 September 2005. The Commission also targeted Portugal for incorrectly transposing directive 95/21 on port State control of shipping, which was amended and reinforced by directive 2002/84. The directive seeks to reduce substandard shipping in European waters through increased compliance with international and Community legislation on maritime safety, protection of the marine environment, and living and working conditions at sea. It, therefore, establishes common criteria for control of ships by the port State and harmonises procedures on inspection and detention of substandard ships. In the Commission's view, the measures currently in force in Portugal contain several legal and technical inconsistencies. (dt)