EU Parliament publishes proposals to introduce boaters qualifications and discourage red diesel

A committee of European Parliament recently published its proposals to harmonise boaters qualifications, and amend the Recreational Craft Directive which applies to all new boats, and discourage the use of red diesel! It pays to read the small print!

As you would expect much of the proposals are related to the technical details of marine engines and boats and probably most are not controversial to any of the member states since they seek to keep boats up to date with advancing technical standards. However tucked away is one important proposed amendment that doesn't really belong there but it is to be considered by the European Parliament in December this year. This proposal works on the principle of “he who shouts loudest” and comes primarily from the Belgium and Netherlands’s representatives.

The proposal reads; (26a) there is no harmonisation or level playing field with regard to watercraft licences or technical checks, and tax evasion can still take place through the use of agricultural diesel. Therefore the Commission should consider submitting proposals to harmonise watercraft licences at Union level, to encourage regular technical checks and to prevent tax evasion by discouraging the use of agricultural diesel.

If unopposed at the December meeting this would become the EU’s stated position and it then instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and to National Parliaments.

Now don’t be confused the licence they refer to is not a waterways licence issued by the navigation authority but the equivalent of a driving licence. Do we want one, do we need one? It will be some Brussels’ version of the ICC (international certificate of competence) and could become compulsory for all boaters.  Is that really a part of the Recreational Craft Directive? I think not! Plus if you cannot win the arguments about the use of red diesel by boats why not try and slip some controls through this innocuous set of red tape. The same applies to what might become the EU equivalent of the Boat Safety Scheme.

So we must ensure that our representatives in Brussels vote against this proposal and that the Waterways Minister here clearly understands  the views of boaters, NABO and all boating organisations in the UK.

Why not write to your MEP since they will be at the Parliament meeting on 11 December 2012?

You can read the full EU document here.

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