The Committee welcomes the proposal for a Directive and, above all, the plan to harmonize the application of safety rules and standards for passenger ships on domestic voyages, thereby avoiding distortions of competition in this area.
The Committee considers it appropriate that the requirements laid down differ according to class of ship and whether the ships have already been built or have yet to be built. The Committee emphasizes the importance of European cooperation within the framework of the Paris memorandum. The Committee would recall its Opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive on Port State Control in Community ports - an area in which a great deal remains to be done. Lastly, and in line with earlier Opinions, the Committee maintains that the Commission should not replace the Member States on the IMO. However, this should not stop it coordinating the Member States' participation in this organization, making proposals and giving a lead.�