Brussels, 11/03/2008 (Agence Europe) - French law does not comply with Community law on the free movement of workers, insofar as it prevents non-French citizens from holding the positions of captain and first mate (second in command) on merchant navy vessels. This was the ruling delivered by the Court of Justice of the European Communities on 11 March in case C-89-07. The Court considers that the responsibilities of a captain are not often enough of a “public authority” nature for captains to be included in exemptions granted to public administration jobs. The merchant navy argues, however, that the captain's responsibilities are often related to public safety, inter alia by bringing support to the national navy. In addition, “we have concerns over the value of the qualifications of some countries,” said Patrick Vigneron-Larosa, Secretary General of the Merchant Navy Captains and Officers Association. Nonetheless, French authorities having already begun the necessary amendments, this ruling is little more a rap on the knuckles for the delay: bringing French law into line, promised for 2007, is due to be completed imminently, at the beginning of 2008. (C.D.)