28.5.2009 Official Journal of the European Union L 131/47 DIRECTIVES DIRECTIVE 2009/15/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 23 April 2009 on common rules and standards for ship inspection and survey organisations and for the relevant activities of maritime administrations (Recast) (Text with EEA relevance) THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 80(2) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1), Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (3), Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty, in the light of the Joint text approved by the Conciliation Committee on 3 February 2009 (), Whereas: (1) Council Directive 94/57/EC of 22 November 1994 on common rules and standards for ship inspection and survey organisations and for the relevant activities of maritime administrations (¥} has been substantially amended several times. Since further amendments are to be made, it should be recast in the interests of clarity. (") OJ C 318, 23.12.2006, p. 195. (3 OJ C 229, 22.9.2006, p. 38. (}) Opinion of the European Parliament of 25 April 2007 (O] C 74 E, 20.3.2008, p. 633), Council Common Position of 6 June 2008 (O] C 184 E, 22.7.2008, p. 11), Position of the European Parliament of 24 September 2008 (not yet published in the Official Journal), Council Decision of 26 February 2009 and Legislative Resolution of the European Parliament of 11 March 2009 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (*) OJ L 319, 12.12.1994, p. 20. ) In view of the nature of the provisions of Directive 94/57[EC it seems appropriate that its provisions be recast in two different Community legal instruments, namely a Directive and a Regulation. In its Resolution of 8 June 1993 on a common policy on safe seas, the Council set the objective of removing all substandard vessels from Community waters and gave priority to Community action designed to secure the effective and uniform implementation of international rules by drawing up common standards for classification societies. Safety and pollution prevention at sea may be effectively enhanced by strictly applying international conventions, codes and resolutions while furthering the objective of freedom to provide services. The control of compliance of ships with the uniform international standards for safety and prevention of pollution of the seas is the responsibility of flag and port States. Member States are responsible for the issuing of inter- national certificates for safety and the prevention of pollution provided for under conventions such as the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea of 1 November 1974 (SOLAS 74), the International Convention on Load Lines of 5 April 1966 and the International ~ Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships of 2 November 1973 (Marpol), and for the implementation of those conventions. In compliance with such conventions all Member States may authorise to a varying extent recognised organis- ations for the certification of such compliance and may delegate the issue of the relevant certificates for safety and the prevention of pollution.