04/04/2008 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission announced on Thursday 3 April that it had sent reasoned opinions to Estonia and Italy for failing to adopt national legislation on the mutual recognition of seafarers' certificates. The 2005 directive in question was designed to improve the image of European shipping and attract young people to the seafaring professions. It encourages professional mobility for seafarers with particular emphasis on recognition procedures for seafarers' competency certificates, while ensuring complete compliance with the relevant conventions of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). The member states had until 20 October 2007 to transpose the directive. (L.C.)