WRITTEN QUESTION E-1817/99 by Heidi Hautala (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Entry into force of European scientific diving standard.
18. 7. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 203 E/57 The increased quotas ü and the dates on which they become applicable ü are part of a set of measures that has been carefully put together, in particular with regard to the budgetary aspects. Changing one of the components could well put the entire package at risk, without any guarantee either that the necessary budgetary resources would be available. 1. Any amendment to Regulation (EC) No 1256/1999, in particular to the dates on which the new quotas will become available, would be a matter for the Council. Accordingly and in view of the fact that the Regulation was published only recently, the Commission has no plans to put forward proposals along the lines suggested by the Honourable Member. 2. 3. In the light of the above the answer is clearly no. No. (1) OJ L 160, 26. 6. 1999. (2000/C 203 E/068) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1817/99 by Heidi Hautala (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (12 October 1999) Subject: Entry into force of European scientific diving standard The European Scientific Diving Committee (ESDC) was established in May 1998 after preparatory work by Marco Weydert (DG XII D/3) and the working party of the seminar which met on the Italian island of Elba from 1 to 11 May 1997. This seminar was funded by Commission grant MAS3-CT96-6351. The objective of the ESDC is to create a training standard for European scientific diving and thus to promote the movement of diving experts from one country to another throughout the European Union and third countries. What is the present situation and timetable as regards ratification of the European scientific diving standard and the statutes of the ESDC? Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission (12 November 1999) A couple of workshops and a seminar supported by the Commission in 1995-1997 have permitted to develop a draft áagreedí European standard for the training of scientific divers using scuba (self contained underwater breathing apparatus i. e. air tanks). Two degrees, called European Scientific Diver (ESD) and Advanced European Scientific Diver (AESD) have been considered in the standard. The lower degree (ESD) is for scientific divers who are still undergoing further training. According to the draft agreed standard, and after the Commission involvement, a provisional European Scientific Diving Supervisory Committee (ESDSC) has been created and placed under the management of EMaPS (European Maríne and Polar Secretariat, now the Maríne Board) at the European Science Foundation in Strasbourg. At this moment, ESDSC is still an informal committee which has still to establish its own rules. In addition corresponding national committees have been created or are in the process of being created in several Member States. ESDSC is expected to establish and to maintain a list of certificates which fulfil the terms of the draft agreed standard. ESDSC is also liaising with the national authorities to promote recognition of the training of scientific divers under the scheme of Council Directive 92/51/EEC of 18 June 1992 on a second general system for the recognition of professional education and training to supplement Directive 89/48/EEC (1). If the conditions of Council Directive 92/51/EEC can be fulfilled, Member States will be required to recognise the qualifications given by the higher of the two degrees (AESD). (1) OJ L 209, 24. 7. 1992