17. 2. 97 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 46/25 COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 96/98/EC of 20 December 1996 on marine equipment THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 84 (2) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2), Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189¢ of the Treaty (%), (1) Whereas within the framework of the common transport policy further measures must be adopted to ensure safety in maritime transport; Whereas shipping accidents are a matter of serious concern to the Community, in particular those that cause loss of human life and pollution of the Member States’ seas and coastlines; Whereas the risk of shipping accidents can be effectively reduced by means of common standards that ensure high safety levels in the performance of the equipment carried on board ships; whereas testing standards and testing methods can have great influence on the future performance of equipment; Whereas international conventions require flag States to ensure that the equipment carried on board ships complies with certain safety requirements and to issue the relevant certificates; whereas to that end testing standards for certain types of marine equipment have been developed by the international standardization bodies and by the International Maritime  Organization (IMO); whereas  the  national  testing  standards (1) O] No C 218, 23. 8. 1995, p. 9. {3) O] No C 101, 3. 4. 1996, p. 3. (} European Parliament opinion of 29 November 1995 (O] No C 339, 18. 12. 1995, p. 21), Council common position of 18 June 1996 (OJ No C 248, 26. 8. 1996, p. 10) and European Parliament Decision of 24 October 1996 (O] No C 347, 18.11.1996). implementing the international standards leave a margin of discretion certification authorities, which themselves have different levels of qualifications and experience; whereas that leads to varying levels of safety for products which the competent national authorities have certified as complying with the relevant international safety standards and to great reluctance on the part of Member States to accept that without further verification ships flying their flags carry equipment approved by other Member States; Whereas common rules must be laid down to climinate differences in the implementation of international standards; whereas such common rules will result in the elimination of unnecessary costs and administrative procedures relating to the approval of equipment, the improvement of operating conditions and of the competitive position of Community shipping and the elimination of technical barriers to trade by means of the mark of conformity affixed to equipment; Whereas in its resolution of 8 June 1993 on a common policy on safe seas (*) the Council urged the Commission to submit proposals for harmonizing the implementation of IMO standards and the procedures for the approval of marine equipment; Whereas action at Community level is the only possible way of achieving such harmonization, since  Member States acting independently or through  international  organizations cannot establish the same level of safety performance in equipment; Whereas a Council Directive is the appropriate legal instrument as it provides a framework for uniform and compulsory application of the international testing standards by Member States; (* O No C 271, 7. 10. 1993, p. 1.