The European Commission just decided to confirm eight infringement procedures against Member States for non-respect of EU rules in the transport sector. Two of them concern Belgium who refused to recognize airline pilots' licences obtained in other Member States. The six other cases relate to non-compliance with EU legislation in the field of maritime transport : failure by Spain to phase out or adjust cargo-sharing clauses in a bilateral maritime agreement with Gabon; non - or insufficient - implementation by France, Spain and Italy (the latter being taken now to the Court of Justice) of the Directive requiring detailed information to be transmitted to the relevant authorities by vessels carrying dangerous or polluting goods; non-communication by Belgium and Portugal of measures implementing the Council Regulation on the reduction of ports and pilotage dues for certain oil tankers. 95/4152 (Belgium) and 95/4558 (Belgium) Commission decided to send reasoned opinions to Belgium for non-respect of EC legislation on mutual acceptance of pilots' licences. The European Commission has decided to send Belgium two reasoned opinions for non-compliance with Council Directive 91/690/EEC concerning the mutual acceptance of licences to exercise functions in civil aviation. One case concerns the refusal to accept a pilots licence obtained in the UK and the other, the refusal to accept a pilots licence obtained in Portugal. 91/0469 (Spain) Commission decided to send a supplementary reasoned opinion to Spain for failure to phase out or adjust cargo-sharing clauses in a bilateral maritime agreement with Gabon The European Commission has decided to send Spain a supplementary reasoned opinion for non-compliance with Council Regulation 4055/86 on freedom to provide services in the field of maritime transport. This Regulation prohibits bilateral cargo-sharing arrangements between Member States and Third Countries. It provides that these arrangements have to be phased out or adjusted in order to allow shipping companies from other Member States to participate to the trade. Contrary to these provisions, Spain has maintained a bilateral maritime agreement with Gabon which contains cargo sharing clauses. 95/2216 (France) - 94/833 (Spain) - 94/887 (Italy): Commission decided to refer Italy to the Court, and to send reasoned opinions to France and Spain for non- or insufficient - implementation of the Directive on minimum standards for ships carrying dangerous or polluting goods Council Directive 93/75/EC relates to vessels bound for or leaving EU ports and carrying dangerous or polluting goods. The "raison d'être" of this Directive is maritime safety. It is designed to enhance the flow of information between the operators of the ships and the designated competent authorities relating to both the characteristics of the ships and the features of the dangerous or polluting good being carried on board. This information system contributes to the prevention and minimization of accidents, enabling the relevant authorities to take the necessary precautions with regard to reducing the consequences of accidents involving vessels carrying dangerous or polluting goods." France did not implement the provisions of the Directive concerning the information requirements, while Spain and Italy still have not communicated the national measures they should have taken to transpose this legislation. 96/2040 - Belgium / 96/2047 -Portugal: Commission decides to send reasoned opinions to Belgium and Portugal for non-communication of measures implementing the Council Regulation on reduction of ports and pilotage dues for segregated ballast tanks. The European Commission has decided to send Belgium and Portugal reasoned opinions concerning non-communication of national measures for the implementation of Council Regulation 2978/94/EEC. This Regulation aims at granting port and pilotage fees reduction to oil tankers which meet high environmental standards in order to encourage their use in EU waters. It should have been implemented by 31 December 1995. The purpose of this Regulation is twofold: the protection of the marine environment from pollution by oil tankers of a conventional design, and to avoid distortion of competition within the Union. ***
