WIREDGOV

On 7 June 2016 the Council adopted a general approach on a draft directive on the recognition of professional qualifications in inland navigation. The proposal aims to provide new career prospects and promote the mobility of people working in the sector. It sets up a common system of certificates for the entire crew, from apprentices to boatmasters. Holders of such a certificate will be able to practice their profession on inland waterways across Europe.

Increasing the mobility of workers

Melanie Schultz van Haegen-Maas Geesteranus, the Netherlands Minister for Infrastructure and the Environment and chair of the meeting, said: ‘Through this new EU certificate crewmembers of inland waterway vessels can work without restriction throughout Europe. Newcomers can earn this certificate by demonstrating that they have broad knowledge and skills agreed at the European level. This increases the mobility of workers in the sector and helps to reduce the shortages of qualified personnel.’

A single competence-based system for all crew members

The current EU legislation on mutual recognition in the sector only covers boatmasters – and only when they operate on rivers and canals other than the Rhine. The rest of the deck crew is covered by the horizontal directive on the recognition of professional qualifications. The draft directive will establish a single system that will apply to all deck crew working on any EU inland waterway falling within the scope of the directive, including the Rhine. The new system will, following calls from the sector and member states, introduce a  competence-based framework similar to those used in other modes of transport.

Better careers in inland navigation

The new system is expected to lower barriers to entry into professions in inland navigation. It will improve career prospects in the sector, making the whole profession more attractive. Automatic mutual recognition will make it easier for people to take jobs wherever they are available. It will also help companies to recruit staff from across Europe. As many companies that are active in the sector are fairly small, increased interest in the profession could help them to expand their businesses, giving a boost to the whole sector. Competence-based qualifications should also improve safety and reduce accident costs.

Strengthening the role of CESNI

The draft directive is, as is the case with the directive on technical requirements for inland waterway vessels, closely linked with the European committee for drawing up standards in inland navigation (CESNI), an international body set up under the auspices of the Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine (CCNR). CESNI will develop various standards in the field of professional qualifications for the Union and the CCNR. As soon as a standard becomes available, a reference to it will be included in the directive.

Taking into account member states' differing circumstances

The general approach introduces a degree of proportionality into the directive, to take account of the situation of member states with little or no inland navigation activity. In such cases, where objective criteria are met, member states will not be required to transpose the directive or certain parts of it.

How will it become law?

The general approach adopted yesterday is the Council's position for talks with the European Parliament. The Parliament has not adopted its position yet. Both institutions must agree on the text before it can enter into force.

Bolstering the use of inland waterways

Inland navigation is a particularly cost-effective and environmentally friendly mode of transport. The draft directive is one of the measures which aim to improve its quality and promote its use, particularly for freight shipping (NAIADES II package).