Marine equipment

PREVIOUS COMMUNITY LEGISLATION: The Commission communication "A common policy for safe seas" (COM(93)0066) is the basic document on this subject and was adopted by a resolution of the Council of 8 June 1993 entitled A common policy on safe seas (OJ C 271, 7.10.1993, p. 1). There have been a number of Community legislative acts in this area, beginning with Directive 79/116/EEC, of 21.12.1978, concerning minimum requirements for certain tankers entering or leaving Community ports (OJ L 33, 8.2.1979, p. 33), as amended by Directive 79/1034/EEC of 6 December 1979 (OJ L 315, 11.12.1979, p. 16); however, there are fewer acts concerning shipping equipment, as most of the rules and regulations on shipping were negotiated within the IMO (International Maritime Organization). The Community acknowledges the key role of this organization, plays an active part in it and draws up its own legislation only in exceptional cases, i.e. when the IMO is unable to propose solutions which meet the special requirements of the Community and when action is needed to ensure adequate standards on the Community's seas. PREVIOUS POSITION OF EP: The EP approves efforts to improve maritime safety and, in endorsing the 1993 Commission communication in its resolution of 11 March 1994 on a common policy on safe seas (OJ C 91, 28.3.1994, p. 301), emphasized the need for rigorous enforcement of standards, better inspections and improvements and extensions to technical standards. SITUATION IN THE MEMBER STATES: All the Member States have ratified the SOLAS Convention (the international convention of 1974 on the safety of lives at sea).