European Union

Qualifications Recognition [EU]

System for the recognition of professional qualifications Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications It sets up a system for the recognition of professional qualifications in the European Union (EU), which also extends, with certain adaptations, to the other European Economic Area (EEA/EFTA) countries and to Switzerland. It aims to provide access to labour markets for professionals in other EU countries, further facilitate cross-border […]

Free Movement Workers [EU]

Free movement of workers Regulation (EU) No 492/2011 on the right of EU workers to move within the EU It updates (and codifies) earlier legislation on the ability of European Union citizens to move freely and to work in another EU country. It also seeks to ensure that the principle of free movement enshrined in Article 45 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the […]

International Rail Carriage [EU]

Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF) Decision 2013/103/EU signing and conclusion of the agreement on the EU’s accession to the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF), as amended by the 1999 Vilnius Protocol Agreement on the EU’s accession to the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF), as amended by the 1999 Vilnius Protocol The decision concludes on behalf of the EU […]

Rail Safety [EU]

EU-wide rail safety Directive (EU) 2016/798 on railway safety It aims to enhance railway safety across the EU by revising the role of national safety authorities (NSAs) and reallocating responsibilities between them and the European Union Agency for Railways (the Agency). The directive is one of 3 legislative acts covering the technical aspects of the fourth railway package which aims to revitalise the rail sector […]

Licensing & Insurance [EU]

Road safety: driving licences Directive 2006/126/EC on driving licences It introduces a new European driving licence. It recasts Directive 91/439/EEC – which it also repeals. Key Points The directive does the following. It helps to improve road safety: it introduces a new category of licence for mopeds and requires a mandatory theory test beforehand as well as a graduated access to heavier motorcycles. It further […]

Emissions & Road Transport [EU]

Charging of heavy goods vehicles: Eurovignette Directive Most EU countries charge hauliers for using their transport infrastructure, notably roads. The EU has introduced the Eurovignette with the aim of recovering construction, maintenance, repair and environmental costs, ensuring fair competition and preventing discrimination. Directive 1999/62/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 1999 on the charging of heavy goods vehicles for the […]

Freight Transport Infrastructure [EU]

Electronic freight transport information SUMMARY OF: Regulation (EU) 2020/1056 on electronic freight transport information The regulation establishes a legal framework that allows economic operators to share with enforcement authorities information in an electronic format concerning the transport of goods by road, rail, inland waterways and air in the European Union (EU). Application The regulation applies to regulatory information requirements on the transport of goods set […]

Rail Passenger Rights [EU]

EU rail passengers’ rights Regulation (EU) 2021/782 on rail passengers’ rights and obligations It aims to provide significantly improved protection to rail passengers in the event of travel disruptions. It also aims to respond better to the needs of persons with disabilities or reduced mobility. Key Points The regulation applies to international or domestic rail journeys throughout the European Union (EU) provided by one or […]

Ship Passenger Rights [EU]

Registration of persons on board passenger ships Directive 98/41/EC — registration of persons sailing on board passenger ships operating to or from EU ports Directive (EU) 2017/2109 amending Council Directive 98/41/EC on the registration of persons in passenger ships It sets out rules on the registration of those on board passenger ships and high-speed craft operating in EU waters. It complements the safety rules and […]

Air Carrier Liability [EU]

Air carrier passenger and baggage liability Regulation (EC) No 2027/97 on air carrier liability The regulation implements the 1999 Montreal Convention as it relates to liability and compensation issues for passengers travelling by air and their baggage (see summary). Note: The original regulation (before it was amended by Regulation (EC) No 889/2002) concerned European Union (EU) air carrier liabilities for death or injury to passengers […]

Air Passenger Data [EU]

Obligation of air carriers to communicate passenger data This Directive requires air carriers to collect and transmit passenger data to the authorities of the Member State of destination responsible for control. Non-compliance may lead to fines being imposed and even, in the case of serious infringement, confiscation of the means of transport or withdrawal of the operating licence. Council Directive 2004/82/EC of 29 April 2004 […]

Maritime Borders [EU]

Controlling the EU external maritime borders and saving immigrants’ lives in operations at sea This regulation sets out the rules for the monitoring of the European Union’s sea borders, the interception of vessels suspected of carrying irregular immigrants and the rescue of those in danger at sea in border surveillance operations under the coordination of Frontex. 656/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council […]

Maritime Safety [EU]

Maritime safety: minimum level of training of seafarers Directive 2008/106/EC on the minimum level of training of seafarers It incorporates, into EU law, minimum standards of training, certification and watchkeeping for seafarers serving on board EU vessels which are fixed by the convention on standards of training, certification and watchkeeping for seafarers (STCW convention) of the International Maritime Organisation. The convention was adopted in 1978. […]

Ship Registration [EU]

State Obligations as Registrars An EU Directive provides a framework to ensure states fulfil their obligations as flag states or place of registration more effectively and consistently. It seeks to prevent maritime pollution and improve maritime safety. Before permitting a ship to be registered and authorised to fly its flag, states must ensure the ship complies with international rules and regulations. It must check safety […]

Ship Liability [EU]

Liability of ship owners in the event of accidents Passengers involved in maritime accidents must have an adequate level of compensation for any loss or damage they suffer. To ensure this, ship owners must have appropriate insurance arrangements in place. 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 […]

Oil Ship Pollution [EU]

Civil liability for oil pollution damage: Bunkers Convention Decision 2002/762/EC authorising EU countries to sign, ratify or accede to the Bunkers Convention It authorises EU countries to sign, ratify or accede to the 2001 International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage (Bunkers Convention). The Bunkers Convention was adopted under the auspices of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to ensure adequate, prompt and […]

Tachographs [EU]

Tachographs in road transport It sets out the requirements on the construction, installation, use, testing and control of tachographs* used in road transport in the European Union (EU). Tachographs must be installed in all vehicles of over 3.5 tonnes transporting goods by road, and in vehicles that can carry more than 9 people (including the driver), with certain exceptions. Digital tachographs record the following data: […]

Transport Networks [EU]

Advancing the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) Directive (EU) 2021/1187 on streamlining measures for advancing the realisation of the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) It aims to streamline measures to advance the realisation of the trans-European transport network (TEN-T). It also aims to make the procedural process clearer for project promoters, in particular as regards permit granting and public procurement. The directive is known as the ‘smart […]

Transport Dangerous Goods [EU]

Inland transport of dangerous goods Directive 2008/68/EC on the inland transport of dangerous goods It lays down common rules for the safe and secure transport of dangerous goods within and between EU countries by road, rail or inland waterway. It also covers aspects such as loading and unloading, the transfer to and from another mode of transport, as well as the stops in the course […]

Unmanned Aircraft [EU]

Unmanned aircraft systems – design and manufacture requirements Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 on unmanned aircraft systems and on third-country operators of unmanned aircraft systems It sets out the features and capabilities that drones (unmanned aircraft and the equipment to control it remotely) must have in order to be flown safely and aims to help foster investment and innovation in the sector. The regulation also addresses […]

Global Navigation [EU]

Safe air navigation: Contributing to a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Agreement between the European Community, the European Space Agency and the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation on a European contribution to the development of a global navigation satellite system Decision 98/434/EC concerning the Agreement between the European Community, the European Space Agency and the European Organisation for the Safety of Air […]

Aviation Safety [EU]

Civil aviation accidents and incidents Regulation (EU) No 996/2010 — investigation and prevention of accidents and incidents in civil aviation It aims to improve aviation safety by ensuring a high level of efficiency, expediency, and quality of European civil aviation safety investigations. It lays down rules concerning the timely availability of information relating to all persons and dangerous goods on board an aircraft involved in […]

Airport Safety [EU]

Safety regulation of aerodromes Regulation (EU) No 139/2014 — requirements and administrative procedures related to aerodromes It introduces EU-wide requirements for managing, certifying and operating aerodromes*, which replace the existing national rules on aerodrome safety. Oversight of aerodromes Each EU country must designate a competent authority (or authorities): with powers and responsibilities to certify and oversee aerodromes, as well as their staff and organisations involved; […]

Air Traffic [EU]

Air traffic flow management Regulation (EU) No 255/2010 – common rules on air traffic flow management It aims to lay down measures regarding air traffic flow management (ATFM) to optimise available capacity in the use of airspace and enhance ATFM processes. The uniform application of specific rules and procedures within the airspace of the single European sky is critical to achieve the optimum use of […]

Air Navigation Services [EU]

Requirements for providers of air traffic management and air navigation services Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/373 — common requirements for providers of air traffic management/air navigation services and other air traffic management network functions and their oversight Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/469 amending Regulation (EU) 2017/373 as regards requirements for air traffic management/air navigation services, design of airspace structures and data quality Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/373, as […]

Air Crew [EU]

Aircrew regulation Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 — technical requirements and administrative procedures related to civil aviation aircrew pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 It sets out detailed rules for civil aviation aircrew in respect of the common rules on civil aviation set out in Regulation (EU) 2018/1139. Key Points The Regulation sets out detailed rules covering a number of issues: Conditions for issuing, maintaining, amending, […]

EU Border Control

Strengthening the Schengen area The objectives of the European strategy for strengthening the Schengen area are to improve the application of common rules and to better deal with exceptional threats at external borders. Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions of 16 September 2011, Schengen governance – strengthening the area […]

EU Visa Systems

Establishment of the visa information system (VIS) – Stage 1 SUMMARY OF: Decision 2004/512/EC establishing the visa information system (VIS) WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DECISION? Decision 2004/512/EC set up the visa information system (VIS) for sharing visa data between European Union (EU) Member States. This enables authorised national authorities to enter and update visa data and to consult these data electronically. Regulation (EU) […]

EU Visas

Visa requirements for non-EU nationals Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 — list of non-EU countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when entering the EU and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement It lists the countries covered by this legislation and those that are exempt. The regulation repeals and codifies the much-amended Regulation (EC) No 539/2001. Key Points The regulation develops from the […]

Workers & Immigration [EU]

Non-EU nationals — rules for long-term residence Directive 2003/109/EC — status of non-EU nationals who are long-term residents It sets out the terms and conditions for granting — and withdrawing — long-term residence status to non-European Union citizens (third-country nationals*) living legally in a European Union (EU) country for at least 5 years. It determines their rights and the areas where they enjoy equal treatment […]

Travel Documents [EU]

Integration of biometric features in passports and travel documents Regulation (EC) No 2252/2004 on standards for security features and biometrics in passports and travel documents issued by EU countries It seeks to harmonise the security features, including biometric identifiers*, for EU country passports and travel documents to protect against their falsification. It was amended by Regulation (EC) No 444/2009 in 2009 mainly to define exceptions […]

People Smuggling [EU]

Smuggling of migrants by land, sea and air — UN protocol Council decisions 2006/616/EC and 2006/617/EC on the conclusion of the UN protocol against the smuggling of migrants (by land, sea and air), supplementing the UN convention against transnational organised crime They formally approve the EU’s signing of the UN protocol against the smuggling of migrants by land, sea or air to the extent that […]

Illegal Immigration [EU]

EU measures to prevent the facilitation of illegal immigration Directive 2002/90/EC defining the facilitation of unauthorised entry, transit and residence Framework Decision 2002/946/JHA on the strengthening of the penal framework to prevent the facilitation of unauthorised entry, transit and residence Both aim to strengthen the system of sanctions preventing the facilitation of illegal immigration. Directive 2002/90/EC provides a common EU definition of what facilitation of […]

Crisis Measures [EU]

External EU action to address the refugee crisis SUMMARY OF: Joint Communication — JOIN(2015) 40 final — Refugee crisis in Europe: the role of EU External Action SUMMARY WHAT DOES THIS JOINT COMMUNICATION DO? — It describes the measures the EU is taking beyond its borders to tackle the refugee crisis. Precedence is being given to initiatives that have an immediate impact on migration flows, […]

Refugee Institutions [EU]

Mutual information mechanism for national asylum and immigration measures Decision 2006/688/EC establishing a mutual information mechanism concerning EU countries’ measures in the areas of asylum and immigration It aims to improve the sharing of information between EU countries concerning national asylum and immigration measures. It sets up a formal information procedure between EU countries and the European Commission, with the aim of improving the coordination […]

EU Asylum Procedures

European Union asylum procedures Directive 2013/32/EU — common procedures for granting and withdrawing international protection It repeals Directive 2005/85/EC on minimum standards on procedures for granting and withdrawing refugee status in the European Union (EU). It sets up common procedures for granting and withdrawing international protection (refugee status and the protection given to people who are not refugees but who would risk serious harm if […]

EU Asylum Standards

Refugees and stateless persons — common standards for qualification Directive 2011/95/EU — common standards for the qualification and international protection of refugees and stateless persons It aims to: lay down common standards for the identification of non-EU citizens or stateless persons genuinely in need of international protection in the EU, either as refugees or as beneficiaries of subsidiary protection*; ensure that those persons can use […]