Resolution on the proposal for a Council directive implementing the Agreement concluded by the European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA) and the European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF) on the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 and amending Directive 1999/63/EC

The European Parliament adopted by 646 votes to 20 with 5 abstentions, a resolution tabled by the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs on the proposal for a Council directive implementing the Agreement concluded by the European Community Shipowners" Associations (ECSA) and the European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF) on the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 and amending Directive 1999/63/EC.

Parliament began by welcoming the fact that, although Article 139(2) of the Treaty does not provide for Parliament to be consulted in relation to requests made to the Commission by the social partners, the Commission has forwarded its proposal to Parliament and has asked it to communicate its opinion to the Commission and the Council. It supports the agreement concluded by the social partners on certain aspects of the working conditions of workers in the maritime shipping sector as it strikes a fair balance between the need to improve working conditions and to protect the health and safety of seafarers.

The Agreement should be submitted to the Council, and Parliament calls on the Council to adopt the Commission proposal with a view to implementing the Agreement as concluded by the social partners, taking into account any special interests of the Member States and, accordingly, of the EU.

Parliament considers that it is essential to define and enforce global minimum standards of employment and health and safety conditions for seafarers employed or working on board seagoing ships. It welcomes the fact that the Agreement as concluded by the social partners and the Commission proposal provide only for minimum requirements. Member States and/or the social partners are free to adopt measures which are more favourable to workers in the area concerned and substantially equivalent to the provisions of Part A of the Code of the Convention.

Parliament recommends the adoption of the Commission proposal. It calls on all Member States to ratify the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 without delay.