On 7-8 June 2012 Danish Minister for Business and Growth, Ole Sohn, will focus on growth when EU ministers responsible for maritime affairs and IT and Telecommunication (ICT) will discuss initiatives to strengthen growth and employment in Europe at the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council.
On 7 June, seafarers’ working conditions is on the agenda when two directive proposals are discussed. The directives will strengthen Member States’ responsibility as flag states and port states in relation to the international convention about seafarers’ working conditions (the MLC-convention).
Danish Minister for Business and Growth, Ole Sohn:
The EU directive proposals, implementing the MLC-convention, will help safeguard the working conditions on board vessels for seafarers. On European ships, the EU Member States will be required to perform inspections regarding working conditions. On ships from third countries, the working conditions will be checked as the ships call into port at European harbours.
On June 8, the second day of the meeting, focus will be on how to create growth and employment in Europe by exploiting the possibilities that come from strengthening the Digital Single Market. Among others, the Commission will present the proposal for regulation about e-identification and e-signatures, which has just been published. This is the last of the twelve key initiatives in the Single Market Act to be put forward.
Danish Minister for Business and Growth, Ole Sohn:
The Commission’s proposal for regulation regarding e-identification and e-signatures is an important proposal and one of the twelve key initiatives in the Single Market Act. The proposal will open doors to new opportunities for trade in the Single Market. The more we digitise and the more we shop online we become increasingly dependent of identification on the internet. Thus the proposal will help ensure that the Single Market is geared for a future more digital than ever.