The impact of EU accession on ship registration in Malta

Abstract

The Maltese political scene is undoubtedly dominated by the frenzied debate concerning Malta's possible full membership within the European Union. Impact Assessments have naturally been carried out for a number of areas, each analyzing the effects of EU accession. One such Impact Assessment is the one studying the effects of the adoption of the EU Acquis Communitaire with regard to Ship Registration. In fact, considerable attention is being reserved to the prospected impact of Malta's entry into the EU on the Maltese Shipping Registry. The Report, commissioned by the Malta Maritime Authority, and now available to the public, is divided into two parts. The first part considers legal issues whilst the second part tackles the economic implications of full membership on the Maltese Shipping Register.