National and international inland waterway transport: systems of chartering and pricing

The Council's common position incorporates the EP amendment changing the date for the Directive's entry into force in the Member States to 1 January 1997. The Council also makes various amendments to the Commission proposal, with a view to: - ensuring that vessel operators who do not own their vessels are also covered by the Directive, and simplifying the definition of 'carrier'; - deleting the reference to charter exchanges; - bringing together under a single article all transport not subject to chartering by rotation and making it clear that only Member States practising rotation work are covered by the article; - making it clear that Regulation (EEC) No 1101/89 continues to apply whether or not there is a serious disturbance in the inland waterway market and stipulating that the Commission should be able to take the measures concerned solely at the request of a Member State, not on its own initiative. �