COMMISSION OPINION of 14 December 1977 addressed to the Government of the French Republic on a draft order implementing Council Directive 76/135/EEC of 20 January 1976 on reciprocal recognition of navigability licences for inland waterway vessels (78/60/EEC)

1. In the letter of 24 June 1976 from the office of its Permanent Representation, the Government of the French Republic, in accordance with Article 6 of Council Directive 76/135/EEC of 20 January 1976 on reciprocal recognition of navigability licences for inland waterway vessels (1), submitted for the opinion of the Commission a draft order implementing Council Directive 76/135/EEC.

2. The Commission notes: - that the draft order refers to Council Directive 76/135/EEC of 20 January 1976 and incorporates certain of its provisions, in particular, as regards the scope and length of validity of the navigability licences,

- that it designates the approved licensing body.

3. However, the Commission must draw the French Government's attention to the fact that the draft order does not provide for the recognition of navigability licences issued by another Member State as stipulated in Article 3 (1) of the Directive. The Commission accordingly requests the French Government to supplement the French regulations on this point.

Done at Brussels, 14 December 1977.

For the Commission

Richard BURKE

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ No L 21, 29.1.1976, p. 10.