L 131/24 Official Journal of the European Union 28.5.2009 REGULATION (EC) No 392/2009 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 23 April 2009 on the liability of carriers of passengers by sea in the event of accidents (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 ('), Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (%), 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) Within the framework of the common transport policy, further measures need to be adopted in order to enhance safety in maritime transport. Those measures should include liability rules for damage caused to passengers, since it is important to ensure a proper level of compen- sation for passengers involved in maritime accidents. (2)  The Protocol of 2002 to the Athens Convention relating to the Carriage of Passengers and their Luggage by Sea, 1974 was adopted on 1 November 2002 under the auspices of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). The Community and its Member States are in the process of deciding whether to accede to or ratify that Protocol. In any case, the provisions thereof incor- porated by this Regulation should apply for the Community from no later than 31 December 2012. (3)  The Athens Convention relating to the Carriage of Passengers and their Luggage by Sea 1974, as amended by the Protocol of 2002 (the Athens Convention), applies () OJ C 318, 23.12.2006, p. 195. () O] C 229, 22.9.2006, p. 38. (}) Opinion of the European Parliament of 25 April 2007 (O] C 74 E, 20.3.2008, p. 562), Council Common Position of 6 June 2008 (O] C 190 E, 29.7.2008, p. 17), 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). ®) to international transport only. The distinction between national and international transport has been eliminated within the internal market in maritime transport services and it is therefore appropriate to have the same level and nature of liability in both international and national transport within the Community. The insurance arrangements required under the Athens Convention must take into consideration the financial means of ship-owners and insurance companies. Ship- owners must be in a position to manage their insurance arrangements in an economically acceptable way and, particularly in the case of small shipping companies operating national transport  services, account must be taken of the seasonal nature of their operations. When setting insurance arrangements under this Regulation, account should therefore be taken of the different classes of ship. It is appropriate to oblige the carrier to make an advance payment in the event of the death of or personal injury to a passenger, whereby advance payment does not constitute recognition of liability. Appropriate information on rights being conferred on passengers should be provided to those passengers prior to their journey or, where that is not possible, at the latest on departure. The Legal Committee of the IMO adopted on 19 October 2006 the IMO Reservation and Guidelines for the Implementation of the Athens Convention (the IMO Guidelines) to address certain issues under the Athens Convention, such as, in particular, compensation for terrorism-related damage. As such, the IMO Guidelines may be considered a lex specialis. This Regulation incorporates and makes binding parts of the IMO Guidelines. To that end, where it occurs in the provisions of the IMO Guidelines, the verb ‘should should, in particular, be understood as ‘shall’ The provisions of the Athens Convention (Annex I) and of the IMO Guidelines (Annex II) should be understood, mutatis mutandis, in the context of Community legis- lation.