HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"L 226/10
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
1.9.2011
DECISIONS
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION
of 31 August 2011
on the recognition of Morocco pursuant to Directive 2008/106/EC of the European Parliament and
of the Council as regards the systems for the training and certification of seafarers
(notified under document C(2011) 6020)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2011/520/EU)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
carried out by experts of the European Maritime Safety
Agency in December 2006. During that inspection
certain deficiencies in the training and certification
systems were identified.
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European
Union,
(3) The
Commission
provided
the
Member
States
with
a
report on the results of the assessment.
Having regard to Directive 2008/106/EC of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on the
minimum level of training of seafarers ( 1 ), and in particular the
first subparagraph of Article 19(3) thereof,
(4)
By letters of 4 February 2009 and 9 March 2010, the
Commission requested Morocco to provide evidence
demonstrating that the deficiencies identified had been
corrected.
Having regard to the request from Cyprus on 13 May 2005,
(5)
By letters of 13 May 2009, 29 May 2009, 2 April 2010
and 4 January 2011, Morocco provided the requested
Whereas:
information and evidence concerning the implementation
of appropriate and sufficient corrective action to address
most of the deficiencies identified during the assessment
of compliance.
(1) According
to
Directive
2008/106/EC
Member
States
may
decide to endorse seafarers’ appropriate certificates issued
by third countries, provided that the third country
concerned is recognised by the Commission. Those
(6)
The remaining shortcomings concern on the one hand
third countries have to meet all the requirements of
missing legal provisions regarding training equipment as
the International Maritime Organisation (IMO)
well as qualifications and training of instructors and
Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and
assessors, and on the other hand lack of training
Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 (STCW
equipment at the main maritime education and training
Convention) ( 2 ), as revised in 1995.
institution of Morocco. Morocco has therefore been
invited to implement further corrective action in this
respect. However, these shortcomings do not warrant
calling into question the overall level of compliance of
(2) By
letter
of
13
May
2005,
Cyprus
submitted
a
request
Morocco with STCW requirements on training and
for recognition of Morocco. Following that request of
certification of seafarers.
Cyprus, the Commission assessed the training and certifi
cation systems in Morocco in order to verify whether
Morocco meets all the requirements of the STCW
Convention and whether the appropriate measures have
(7)
The outcome of the assessment of compliance and the
been taken to prevent fraud involving certificates. That
evaluation of the information provided by Morocco
assessment was based on the results of an inspection
demonstrate that Morocco meets all the requirements
of the STCW Convention, and has taken appropriate
( 1 ) OJ L 323, 3.12.2008, p. 33.
measures to prevent fraud involving certificates. It
( 2 ) Adopted by the International Maritime Organisation.
should therefore be recognised by the Commission.

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EN
1.9.2011 Official
Journal
of
the
European
Union L
226/11
(8) The
measures
provided
for
in
this
Decision
are
in
Article 2
accordance with the opinion of the Committee on Safe
Seas and the Prevention of Pollution from Ships,
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Done at Brussels, 31 August 2011.
Article 1
For the Commission
For the purposes of Article 19 of Directive 2008/106/EC,
Morocco is recognised as regards the systems for the training
Siim KALLAS
and certification of seafarers.
Vice-President

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