Of the seven amendments introduced by Parliament to the Council's common position, the Commission can accept four:
- the reference to arbitration;
- the deletion of the word "minimum" in the revision clause in order not to limit the scope of the revision clause to minimum liability only but rather to take a wider approach and look at liability in the wide sense;
- substituting the word "increase" for "alter";
- on the consultation between recognised organisations on technical standards but without the reference to IMO Resolution 847(20). This reference may be made in the article dealing with the responsibilities of flag state administrations, but not in an article dealing with the technical co-operation between recognised organisations.
Amendments not accepted:
- the words "authorised or engaged to" since this is impossible to apply without imposing unreasonable burdens;
- the introduction of fixed minimum and maximum levels of liability for negligence. In view of the introduction of the revision clauses, the Commission is prepared to leave the setting of the specific maximum amount to the individual Member States in the framework of the agreements that the Member States will negotiate and conclude with the classification societies they wish to authorise to work on their behalf.�