25/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 24 June, the European Commission decided to send Portugal a reasoned opinion for failure to properly transpose the EU directive on controls of ships at port (Directive 95/21/EC), part of the third maritime package, that aims to clamp down on ships that do not meet EU quality rules by means of common criteria for the control of ships and inspection and harmonisation of grounding procedures for ships not meeting the EU requirements (see EUROPE 9800). The directive introduces a penalty system for failing ships, which the Commission says Portugal is not applying in practice. The Portuguese government has two months to respond to the reasoned opinion, failing which the Commission may decide to send the country to the European Court of Justice. (A.By./transl.fl)