A social dimension in CESNI’s work programme for 2019-2021

The work carried out by the Comité Européen pour l’Élaboration de Standards dans le Domaine de Navigation Intérieure (CESNI) so far is a good start in giving more attention to quality education and training in Europe.  However this is far from sufficient. Manifold activities are still needed at European level in the area of technical standards that guarantee a level playing field for attractive jobs in the inland waterways sector.

ETF is pleased to learn that most of its proposals for the future work of CESNI fit into the strategic guidelines proposed by the European Commission’s DG Move. ETF tabled input for three fields after CCNR General Secretary Mr Bruno Georges called for input for the future work programme during the CESNI meeting in October 2017.

Main focus lies on:

• Training and education
  • development of a permanent quality controlling instrument
  • development of periodic training, retraining & education linked to the validity of the certificate and this for all functions
  • development of a legal framework for apprentices – structural accompanying programmes for apprentices – standards for trainers & apprentices
  • development of practical exams for all functions
  • development and implementation of simulator training
  • establishment of a platform for permanent monitoring and aligning training and education to technological and digital evolutions in close cooperation with Edinna
  • finalising Riverspeak
• Crewing regulation
  • Continued support to the TASCS project (Towards a sustainable crewing System) for the development of a sustainable manning tool
  • Cooperation to the establishment of a European regulatory framework for crewing
  • Establishment of a platform for permanent monitoring and coordination on the correct application of the (future) manning regulation
• Social security coordination
  • Cooperate to the establishment of uniform rules for the coordination of social security on European level and these rules have to be governed via tri-partite structure similar to CASS