B3-1237, 1261 and 1282/93

Resolution on the positive measures in favour of Community sea transport

The European Parliament,

-having regard to the package of positive measures for the Community fleet submitted by the Commission to Parliament and the Council (COM(89)0266),

-having regard to its opinions of 26 October 1990 on the proposals for I. a regulation establishing a Community shipping register and providing for the flying of the Community flag by seagoing vessels; II. a regulation on a common definition of a Community shipowner; III. a regulation applying the principle of freedom to provide services to maritime transport within Member States and 20 November 1992 on a proposal for a regulation applying the principle of freedom to provide services to maritime transport within Member States (maritime cabotabe),

-having regard to its resolution of 12 June 1992 on the liberalization of maritime cabotage and its economic and social consequences and Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3577/92 on the freedom to provide services to maritime transport within the Member States (cabotage),

A.whereas in the conclusions of the Edinburgh European Council of 11 and 12 December 1992 the Council contested the proposed definition of a Community shipowner on the basis of the principle of subsidiarity,

B.having regard to the serious economic and social crisis which Community sea transport has been facing for many years, aggravated by the growing trend for Community shipowners to shift towards registration under flags of convenience,

C.having regard to the importance of sea transport for trade with the rest of the world; whereas the growing demand for the movement of goods in intra-Community trade and in trade between the EC and third countries will be satisfied only by ever greater use of this type of transport; whereas this should bring about a reduction in the obstacles hampering sea transport,

D.whereas sea transport is also important for the development of the internal market and for the future of an integrated and sustainable Community transport policy, as outlined in the Commission's White Paper,

E.whereas, in the light of the recent adverse developments affecting Community shipping, the measures in favour of the Community fleet contained in its aforementioned opinion of 26 October 1990 are not sufficient, and whereas there is a need, therefore, to extend the scope of such measures and to adopt additional measures,

1.Deplores the Council's failure to react to the proposals concerning the package of positive measures and calls on it, therefore, to approve as a matter of urgency that package designed to support the Community fleet, supplementing it with an aid plan, including fiscal aid, which will stimulate activity in the sector without delay, bearing in mind that the definition of a Community shipowner and the creation of the EUROS register are essential for the success of a common sea transport policy and cannot therefore be dissociated from it;

2.Calls on the Commission and the Council to continue as a matter of urgency their work to establish a Community policy on port infrastructures, which is essential for the development of sea transport, in particular in relation to the intermodal network;

3.Points out that the liberalization of cabotage cannot be tackled without a legislative framework for the Community fleet and calls once again on the Commission and the Council to authorize access to maritime cabotage only for vessels in the EUROS register when it is established, and prohibit access to cabotage to all vessels practising social dumping;

4.Considers that the opening up of European maritime cabotage to third countries should be governed by the principles of reciprocity and fair competition, with the flags complying with current Community social standards;

5.Stresses the importance of passenger and crew safety and the protection of the environment and calls on the Council to make good the delays in this field and work towards guaranteeing the uniform application of international standards at Member State level and ensuring observance of these standards by all vessels working in Community waters;

6.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the Member States and the economic and social organizations in the sector.