L 131/132 Official Journal of the European Union 28.5.2009 DIRECTIVE 2009/21/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 23 April 2009 on compliance with flag State requirements (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 (), Whereas: (1) The safety of Community shipping and of citizens using it and the protection of the environment should be ensured at all times. (2)  In respect of international shipping a comprehensive framework enhancing maritime safety and the protection of the environment with regard to pollution from ships has been set up through the adoption of a number of conventions for which the International Maritime Organ- isation (hereinafter the IMO) is the depository. (3)  Under the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982 (UNCLOS) and of the conventions for which IMO is the depository (hereinafter the IMO Conventions), the States which are party to () O] C 318, 23.12.2006, p. 195. () O] C 229, 22.9.2006, p. 38. (%) Opinion of the European Parliament of 29 March 2007 (O] C 27 E, 31.1.2008, p. 140), Council Common Position of 9 December 2008 (O] C 330 E, 30.12.2008, p. 13) and Position of the European Parliament of 11 March 2009 (not yet published in the Official Journal). those instruments are responsible for promulgating laws and regulations and for taking all other steps which may be necessary to give those instruments full and complete effect so as to ensure that, from the point of view of safety of life at sea and protection of the marine envi- ronment, a ship is fit for the service for which it is intended and is manned with competent maritime personnel. Due account has to be taken of the Maritime Labour Convention, adopted by the International Labour Organ- isation (ILO) in 2006, which also addresses flag State- related obligations. On 9 October 2008, the Member States adopted a statement in which they unanimously recognised the importance of the application of the international conventions related to flag States obligations in order to improve maritime safety and to contribute to preventing pollution by ships. Implementation of the procedures recommended by the IMO in MSC/Circ.1140/MEPC/Circ.424 of 20 December 2004 on the transfer of ships between States should strengthen the provisions of the IMO Conventions and Community maritime safety legislation relating to a change of flag and should increase transparency in the relationship between flag States, in the interests of maritime safety. The availability of information on ships flying the flag of a Member State, as well as on ships which have left a register of a Member State, should improve the trans- parency of the performance of a high-quality fleet and contribute to better monitoring of flag State obligations and to ensuring a level playing field between adminis- trations. In order to help Member States in further improving their performance as flag States, they should have their administration audited on a regular basis. A quality certification of administrative procedures in accordance with the standards of the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) or equivalent standards should further ensure a level playing field between administrations.