(1)

On 29 March 2017, the United Kingdom submitted the notification of its intention to withdraw from the Union pursuant to Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. The Treaties will cease to apply to the United Kingdom from the date of entry into force of a withdrawal agreement, or failing that, two years after that notification, namely from 30 March 2019, unless the European Council, in agreement with the United Kingdom, unanimously decides to extend that period.

(2)

Regulation (EC) No 391/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council (3) and Directive 2009/15/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (4) together constitute the regulatory framework for the activities of recognised ship inspection, survey and certification organisations.

(3)

In accordance with Article 8(1) of Regulation (EC) No 391/2009, ship inspection, survey and certification organisations recognised at Union level by the Commission (‘recognised organisations’) are to be assessed on a regular basis and at least every two years by the Commission, together with the Member State that submitted the relevant request for recognition of the organisation.

(4)

For reasons of equal treatment, organisations which were initially recognised by the relevant Member State in accordance with Council Directive 94/57/EC (5) and currently enjoy Union recognition under Article 15(1) of Regulation (EC) No 391/2009 are to be assessed by the Commission together with the Member State which initially recognised those organisations.

(5)

In accordance with Articles 7 and 8 of Regulation (EC) No 391/2009, in order to continue to benefit from Union recognition, recognised organisations must continue to fulfil the requirements and minimum criteria set out in Annex I to that Regulation. This is verified through the continuous assessment carried out by the Commission, together with the relevant Member State, in accordance with Article 8(1) of that Regulation. Therefore, regular assessments play an important role for continued recognition of organisations.

(6)

Following its withdrawal from the Union, the United Kingdom will no longer be able to participate in the assessments carried out pursuant to Article 8(1) of Regulation (EC) No 391/2009.

(7)

The recognised organisations which were initially recognised by the United Kingdom currently enjoy Union recognition and have been entrusted by other Member States with duties in relation to the inspection, survey and certification of ships, in accordance with Article 3(2) of Directive 2009/15/EC. Article 8(1) of Regulation (EC) No 391/2009 should therefore be amended in order to ensure that those organisations will continue to be subject to assessment in accordance with the requirements of that provision.

(8)

The monitoring and oversight obligations that Member States currently have to fulfil under Article 9 of Directive 2009/15/EC should also be taken into account. In this regard, the assessment of recognised organisations under Regulation (EC) No 391/2009 should be conducted by the Commission together with the Member State or Member States which authorised the relevant recognised organisation in accordance with Article 3(2) of Directive 2009/15/EC.

(9)

In order to ensure the coordination of national and Union activities with regard to the monitoring of recognised organisations, the Commission should consult with experts and identify and exchange good practices to avoid duplication of work and to make best use of existing capacities and resources.

(10)

This Regulation should enter into force as a matter of urgency on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union and should apply from the day following that on which Regulation (EC) No 391/2009 ceases to apply to the United Kingdom,