Maritime safety: ship inspections and survey organisations, package Erika I

The Conciliation Committee reached agreement, following an exchange of letters, on a joint text for the proposal. On the question of "conflict of interests", the Council finally accepted that classification societies should not be controlled by shipowners or shipbuilders, or by others commercially engaged in the manufacture, equipping, repair or operation of ships. On the issue of financial liability, the EP delegation took the view that the Council proposal could be accepted after all, taking into account the fact that the Council text could be modified in 3 years' time following the Commission's evaluation report.�