Text tabled : A7-0162/2012

  Vilja Savisaar-Toomast (ALDE), in writing. − (ET) Today I voted in favour of the report on the minimum level of training of seafarers for a number of reasons. Firstly, given that the days of national crews are long gone in maritime transport and that crews consist of seafarers from a wide range of countries, it is essential to establish and enforce minimum requirements for seafarers holding certain posts. At international level, uniform standards for training and certificates were first established with the convention adopted in 1978, which entered into force in 1984. These standards were integrated into EU legislation only in 1994. Two years ago, the aforesaid convention was materially revised, which necessitates amendments to the EU legislation. One of the major issues is the recognition of seafarers’ certificates issued in third countries, which must guarantee that these seafarers have been trained in accordance with the requirements to ensure the safety of the entire crew. One of the amendments to the directive concerns periods of work and rest for seafarers to ensure the safety of all parties.