Evropská jachtařská asociace – European Boating Association (EBA)
byla založena v roce 1982 jako jeden z orgánů Evropské unie. EBA hájí zájmy evropských jachtařů. ČANY je hrdým členem EBA od roku 2005.
Zpráva ze zasedání EBA (Evropská asociace rekreačního jachtingu) 12. – 14. října 2007 v rakouském Gratzu.
Na úvod zasedání byli zvoleni tři noví viceprezidenti EBA.
Zvoleni byli: Carl Gerstrom (Dánsko) – pro severní Evropu
Guy Toye (Velká Británie) – pro střední Evropu
Juraj Groch (ČR) – pro region jižní Evropy.
Juraj Groch byl ve volbě podporován zejména britskou asociací RYA (Royal Yachting Association, což je nejstarší a největší jachtařská asociace světa)
Největším tématem zasedání byla unifikace kapitánských průkazů ICC (International Certificate of Competency), který začíná být jednotným průkazem způsobilosti k řízení rekreačního plavidla na světě. EBA má dlouhodobý zájem, aby byly sjednoceny standardy kurzů a následných zkoušek nutných pro vydávání těchto průkazů a to jak pro vnitřní toky tak pro moře.
Michael Clarke upozornil na fakt, že Rezoluce 40 OSN, na základě které byly tyto průkazy přijaty a jsou zaváděny v členských státech OSN, které jsou signatáři této rezoluce, ne dost přesně uvádí rozdíl mezi nutnými znalostmi pro vnitřní toky a příbřežní vody. Dále bylo zdůrazněno, že jednotliví členové, kteří zastupují své národní jachtařské asociace, by měli vytvářet větší tlak na své vládní orgány, aby zavedli vydávání ICC na svém území a určili kompetentní organizace jak pro vnitrozemské vody tak pro moře. Rovněž bylo doporučeno, aby zájemci o průkazy ICC mohli tento průkaz získat v jiné zemi, než jejíž jsou občanem. Jedná se zejména o občany dlouhodobě žijící v jiném státě, než je jejich státní příslušnost, nebo o občany těch států, kde není určena organizace, která by byla schopna vyškolit a kvalifikovaně vyzkoušet kandidáty pro získání těchto průkazů.
Bob David, zastupující USA, informoval, že americká námořní policie žádá o rozšíření své jurisdikce tak, aby mohla kontrolovat i rekreační plavidla a, jestli tato změna v zákonu bude provedena, USA taky přistoupí k výše uvedené Rezoluci 40 OSN.
Členové EBA byli rovněž informováni o tom, že Evropská komise pracuje na zavedení jednotné evropské námořní politiky, která by vedla k unifikaci námořních pravidel a norem ve všech členských státech EU.
Mimo zápis bylo diskutováno, že některé státy organizují regaty podle pravidel ISAF, aniž by splňovaly základní bezpečnostní pravidlo, které nařizuje, že minimálně 3 členové každé posádky musí mít certifikát o absolvování kurzu bezpečnosti ISAF. Byl o tom informován i ČSJ. S tím jsou spojeny 2 základní problémy:
1) ISAF výsledky takové regaty neuznává
2) V případě kolize, zranění, nebo škody pojišťovna nic neproplatí, protože nebylo splněno základní pravidlo bezpečnosti. Asi bychom měli od organizátorů regat vyžadovat, aby posádky splňovaly toto kritérium. ČR byla v této souvislosti spomenuta.
Juraj Groch

Minutes of meeting EBA 12th-14th Oct. 2007
2008-03-21 00:00:00
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE EUROPEAN BOATING ASSOCIATION
GRAZ 12th – 14th of October 2007
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE EUROPEAN BOATING ASSOCIATION
GRAZ 12th – 14th of October 2007
There were present:
Nielsen Peer Bent DK DSA, EBA President
Andersson Goran S SBU / SYA
Berglund Hans W S SBU / SYA
Clarke Michael BE DBA
Darbyshire David UK RYA
Damsgaard Boris DK DFU
De Lucia Alfonso I Federazione Italiana Vela
Engstad Bjarne N KNBF
Gerstrom Carl DK DSA, EBA Vice President
Glimsholt Steinar N KNBF
Green Alan UK RYA
Grimsrud Ole Rune N KNBF
Groch Juraj CZ CANY
Haendel Dieter D DMYV
Hamelynck Paul N KNWV
Hansen Mogens DT
Herman Harry IRL ISA
Hill Neal UK RYA
Hjortarson Sigurjon IYA
Hogardh Staffan SE NBC
Jahnke Uwe D DSV
Lagerweij Evert N KNWV
Larsen Peter N NSF
Latek Stanislaw PL PYA
Lazarov Ivo B BULSAF
Michel Erich A ÖSV
Olsson Sten S SBU
Petersen Jorgen DK DFU
Rasmussen Hartvig DK DTF
Sluijter Dick NL KNMC
Syvertsen Jan N KNBF
Thomsen Herman DK Danmark Fritidssejler Federation
Timofei Sergiu RO RRYC
Toye Guy F DBA
In Attendance:
Carruthers Stuart UK RYA Secretary Genera
David Robert USA NBF
Grady Tricia UK RYA
Jansen Peter D IMC Representative
Lewis Gus UK RYA
Kershaw Ken UK RYA Technical Secretary
Popescu Andrei EURMIG
Whelan Edmund UK RYA Regulatory Secretary
Apologies for absence:
Dagci Yylmaz TR TCS
Jones Christopher F PYA
Giraldi Tullio I FIV
Kassarov Stanislav BG BULSAF
Laine Hannu FIN FBA
Larsson Nils-Erik FIN FBA
Nichols Robin UK BWSF
Seljavaara Seppo FIN FBA
Squires Roger UK IWA
Viorel Balanescu UK RRYC
1. Welcome, Introduction, apologies and presentations
Erich Michel welcomed all members to Graz and gave a brief presentation of the programme of activities which included a presentation by Captain Patek on the recreational boating regulations in Croatia after the plenary session on Saturday.
The Secretary recorded the names of those who has submitted their apologies to the President and circulated a list to those present so that they could record their names and contact details. The secretary reminded all of the importance of notifying any changes as a matter of urgency so that all members could be informed and kept up to date with EBA events.
The President then paid tribute to Jean Lemoine who passed away on 07 Sep 07. He then asked for a short period of silence so that those present could pay their respects.
2. Minutes of the meeting held in OSLO 20 - 22 April 2007
a. Review of Actions
ACTION               REMARKS
ACTION 1: Propose amendments to Job Description for Vice Presidents (VP) if thought necessary        No comments had been received. The Job Description was accepted
ACTION 2: Nominations for VPs to be sent to secretariat by 14 July 2007 i.e. 90 days before meeting in Graz    Dealt with under Agenda item 5 of the Graz Agenda
ACTION 3: President to propose committee chairmen  Dealt with under Agenda item 5 of the Graz Agenda
ACTION 4: Monitor the implementation of Water Framework Directive in member states.        All
ACTION 5: Members to raise concerns with COLREG proposals with national governments       All
ACTION 6: Members to make the EBA position on the security of non-SOLAS shipping known to their own national governments.   All
ACTION 7: All to monitor proposals for Traffic Separation Schemes in territorial seas.   All
ACTION 8: Secretary to pursue membership of AMRIE Outstanding
ACTION 9: Members to pass comments to guy Toye on ERNO objectives.          All
ACTION 10: Secretary to produce outline headings for Regulatory Reference Guide (RRG)        Complete, see Agenda Item 6
ACTION 11: The environment committee asked the General Assembly to endorse the request from the OSPAR Biodiversity Committee (BDC 2007) to consider how leisure boaters could become involved in a monitoring process for reporting of marine litter by becoming eyes on the water.   Endorsed
ACTION 12: Secretary to make arrangements for Inland Waterways meeting prior to the General assembly.   Complete. Guy Toye reported to the plenary at Agenda Item 6
3. Matters arising
Jan Syvertsen noted that Item 1 in the minutes of the Oslo meeting should be amended to record that NAVICO, the international manufacturer of electronic instruments had also co-sponsored the dinner at the Royal Norwegian Yacht Club. The amendment was duly recorded and those present recorded their appreciation.
4. Membership Matters.
It was reported at the Oslo meeting that Belgium was considering joining the EBA, but since then nothing more had happened. Michael Clarke reported that the Belgian associations had not reached a consensus supporting the move.
5. Constitutional matters
a. Election of Vice Presidents
A Job Description was circulated with the meeting papers in Oslo which outlined the responsibilities of the Vice Presidents (VP) The President asked for comments on the Job Description so that it could be revised if thought necessary. However, no comments had been received and the Job Description was therefore accepted.
The following nominations for Vice President (VP) posts were received (it is with deep sadness that the EBA notes that the nomination of Jean Lemoine is no longer extant as he passed away on 07 September 2007):
Sten Olssen nominated by the Swedish Boating Association as VP (North) supported by KNBF.
Jean Lemoine proposed himself for VP (South) and is supported by the Italian Sailing Federation, DSV and DMYV.
DSV and DMYV supports the nominations of:
Carl Gerström (North Europe)
Guy Toye (Central Europe)
Jean Lemoine (South Europe)
Gerhart Erich Michel proposes himself as a candidate for the VP for the eastern part (Czech-Republic, Hungary ,Croatia, Slovakia, and so on)
CANY have proposed Juraj Groch as a Vice President, this is supported by RYA.
Guy Toye proposed that the plenary should consider creating a VP with specific responsibility for Inland Waterways matters and to deal with matters arising from Brussels. This was discussed but not supported.
As a result of voting, the following were elected:
• Carl Gerstrom
• Guy Toye
• Juraj Groch
The number of votes cast was to be kept secret.
b. Appointment of committee chairmen by the President
In accordance with Article 13 of the constitution, the President nominated the 3 committee chairman posts based on their knowledge. The following were asked to be committee chairmen and accepted:
• Edmund Whelan - Regulatory
• Jan Syvertsen – Technical
• Neal Hill – Environmental
6. General EBA business
a. International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft (the following is an extract from the regulatory Committee minutes where ICC was fully discussed).
SC reported that, since the last meeting, no other states had signed up to Resolution 40. Guy Toye mentioned that the issue had been discussed in relation to inland waterways at the inland waters pre-meeting held on 12 October 2007 and he commented that there was a concern that the training provided to candidates for the ICC was not always tailored sufficiently to the waters on which the candidate intended to make use of their ICC. Guy gave the example that some holders of inland waters ICCs had not experienced locks and that this could be viewed as a weakness in the system. Guy proposed that it may be worth writing to the various issuing authorities to highlight the concern.
Michael Clarke pointed out that Resolution 40 does not specifically refer to the difference between inland and coastal ICCs, other than in the model Certificate appended to the Resolution. Michael also observed that it would be very difficult for an ICC issuing authority in, say, the UK to give candidates the experience of navigating specific features of some continental waterways.
Jan Syvertsen concurred with Michael’s observation and noted that Norway only has one inland waterway.
Goran Andersson stated that, in his view, if a navigator was sufficiently competent to navigate between nations then they would be capable of coping with locks. Uwe Jahnke agreed and expressed the view that closer communication between ICC issuing authorities would be beneficial in terms of closer alignment of the various standards adopted.
Boris Damsgaard commented that there were variations between different types of lock or lift and that there will always be novel types that even experienced navigators will encounter for the first time and that it would be very difficult to arrive at any common training programme to take such locks and lifts into account.
Juraj Groch commented that the ICC was effectively a driving licence and that it was not possible for drivers to experience all types of road and driving situation prior to obtaining their driving licence.
David Darbyshire recalled the last meeting in which delegates were encouraged to seek to persuade their national Governments to adopt Regulation 40 and asked what progress had been made. SC reported that the issue had been raised with the European Commission in relation to the proposed maritime policy but that no feedback had been received.
Goran Andersson reported that the Swedish Government was intending to extend the compulsory skippers’ licences to a wider range of craft and that this may incorporate adoption of Regulation 40 to enable visitors to navigate vessels lawfully in Swedish waters.
Jan Syvertsen reported that Norway was introducing compulsory skippers’ licences in 2008 but that this would be independent of the ICC. Jan also commented that there was some political resistance in Norway to the adoption of the ICC, partly due to doubts as to the rigor of the qualification process for obtaining ICCs.
Juraj Groch suggested that it might be helpful if the EBA were able to apply some pressure at the UN for states to adopt Resolution 40. Guy Toye agreed that this may have some success but observed that not all European states are represented at the relevant UN committee dealing with the ICC so there would be a limit to how effective such pressure might be. Guy indicated that of the 55 states that could adopt Resolution 40, 10 had adopted it and a similar number had accepted the precursor Resolution but that all had made some modifications or reservations to the Resolution in its implementation.
Michael Clarke pointed out that some national authorities, such as Belgium, recognised ICCs even though those authorities had not adopted Resolution 40 themselves.
Bob David reported that the US Coastguard is proposing to modify its jurisdiction to enable it to exercise authority over recreational vessels and, if it succeeds in doing so, the US may then be in a position to consider adopting Resolution 40.
ACTION 1: Guy Toye agreed to raise the issue at the next meeting of the relevant UN Economic Council for Europe committee. In the mean time, Guy agreed to liaise with SC to identify those nations that might be targeted as a priority.                 Guy Toye
b. ISAF and IMO activity. The following items of interest were reported by Alan Green:
LRIT (Long Range Identification and Tracking). LRIT will be operational by the end 2008. All SOLAS ships will automatically report position, course and speed to an IDE (International Data Exchange). Data will only be available only to entitled users. US estimate there at during any 24 hour period there will be up to 3000 ships within 1000 miles of its coast. No extension to small craft has yet been mentioned, but watch this space!
HARTS (Harbour Area Reporting/Tracking System). This is a unique arrangement in Singapore Harbour. All small craft now tracked by port authority beacons (data sent on GSM phone network). The Singaporean ISAF VP says it’s good and small cost to the small craft. In due course the Singapore Association will be sending a full report on HARTS to ISAF IRC.
Security or Big Brother? LRIT, HARTS, AIS and non-SOLAS vessel security all raise this question. A blanket policy is impossible to create or implement. Therefore a case-by-case consideration and vigilance on style of interpretation by national authorities is of growing importance and Alan Green as all members to monitor how their individual national governments might implement such arrangements nationally for recreational craft.
ACTION 2: All to monitor security proposals for recreational craft by national governments and to bring proposals for national regulations and/or guidelines to the secretary’s attention        ALL
TSS (Traffic Separation Schemes). There to be several proposals to implement new TSS at IMO. Quite often these have been submitted by national administrations with out seeking the views of national recreational boating organisations. All present were asked to bear in mind that TSS had the potential to impact on traditional cruising routes and were asked to keep an eye on the situation nationally. If there were concerns that negotiation at the local level had been ignored then such concerns should be fed back to the Secretary who would raise them with ISAF.
ACTION 3: Monitor national proposals for TSS and report concerns to Secretary             ALL
406 EPIRBs.(Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons) German yachtsmen’s problems with registration may lead to ISAF submitting IMO paper to encourage governments to welcome registration, not restrict it.
AIS Class B. (Automatic Identification System). IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) has completed the standard, but it had not been ratified yet all countries. The technology is good but the equipment works only over short (VHF) range and (like all systems) can fail. Class B transmissions may legally be silenced by certain class A stations and even when “on” may not be seen on minimal but legal display units on ships. Eventually (IRC view) all AIS data (A and B) will be combined by shore authorities with that collected by LRIT. Alan Green reported that IMO was keen to receive from its members (eg ISAF) specific reports of AIS anomalies and asked member to report any to him.
ACTION 4: Report AIS Class B anomalies to Alan Green ALL
AFS (Anti Fouling System). The AFS Convention comes into force at the end of 2008 and the EU biocide directive also. Denmark will ban AF biocides by 2009 but no viable replacement is yet known: dilemma! National legislation may vary. ISAF will encourage practical approach but this is potentially a difficult one.
Environmental, transportation of alien species etc. Andrew Moon led the ISAF delegation to MEPC 56. ISAF has now re-submitted its environment guidance paper to IMO on transportation of alien aquatic species on hull fouling, in bilge and ballast water, and recommendations on a number of environmentally friendly actions like no detergents, oil filter on bilge and minimising use of 2-strokes. This followed consultation with RYA via Stuart Carruthers, Green Blue, Andrew Moon, ISAF office team and others. The ISAF action was triggered by a badly drafted IMO paper from FOTEI (Friends of the Earth International). ISAF/IRC aim is to have small craft dealt with in effect by a policy of education not legislation.
COLREGS. The Italian IMO submission (December 07) proposes a fundamental change to give “commercial” vessels absolute right of way over “pleasure” craft. The IRC Chairman (Alan Green) and his team at MSC 82 made a robust intervention. ISAF strongly opposes the proposal as impractical and dangerous (ITA MNA agrees with ISAF). ISAF submitted a further paper at IMO NAV 53 and there has been much lobbying by ISAF at IMO. 15 IMO delegations say they will support ISAF paper at the NAV 54 meeting in July 08. But NOT ALL delegations support ISAF eg Australia, Canada, EC. The Secretary made it quite clear that members should lobby there own national authorities on the issue where appropriate.
ACTION 5: Member to make concerns on Italian submission know to their national authorities               ALL
Wind Farms. Application of UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) Article 60 to wind farm exclusion areas by Germany, to be examined by Ignacio Ros de Sopranis (IRC Vice Chair and maritime lawyer). Study will compare/contrast/look for best practice in other European experience (help from EBA), Netherlands, Halifax Nova Scotia and Nantucket Sound. RYA has good agreement in UK. Study may need more personnel resources. Aim is to define and promote best practice. Chile SAR incident. The Chilean authorities rescued solo sailor in their region whom they didn’t have prior knowledge of. As a result they Invited ISAF (who have good relations since working on Adventure Craft IMO circular 2003/4) to co-sponsor a paper encouraging member governments and NGOs to urge craft on oceanic passage to tell SAR they are coming. This has been agreed and the ISAF media department will help. Contact with cruising orgs important. NB Strategic Plan Vision (sailing in all its forms) Objective 3 (Media) improve availability of ISAF information Objective 6 (Accessibility and Equipment) “support cruising” etc. IALA (International Association of Lighthouse Authorities) IALA has sent out a questionnaire asking mariners for their views on current buoyage systems. No reason is yet known for this, but there appears to be no appetite to merge the A and B systems. IMO ISPS (International Ship and Port Security) Code. ISPS Code is now in operation. The code sets out standard requirements for ship voyage reporting to arrival ports, the need for ships officers and port officials to have photo passes, specific security duties and physical security arrangements for ports such as security fences etc. IMO is now working on Security of non-SOLAS ships (viz outside ISPS and SOLAS chapter XI-2). IMO notes small craft attack on USS Cole, etc. A Correspondence group co-ordinated by UK Dept for Transport will report November/December 08. ISAF well represented with EBA and RYA support. 4 categories of vessel are to be considered: • commercial non-passenger vessels • passenger vessels • fishing vessels • pleasure craft Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark possibly fearing imposition of impractical/costly registration/controls, tried but failed get pleasure craft removed from debate. ISAF noted that car registration does not stop car bombs. ISAF succeeded in having inserted in correspondence group terms of reference that resulting guidelines will not be intended to form the basis of legislation. Developments will be reported as they develop. c. Inland Waterways Report from pre-meeting. For the sake of brevity a full report from the Inland Waterways pre-meeting is attached to these minutes. The following points were made by Guy Toye: • EBA was to ask CCNR about the rules for recreational boating and to try and get representation on it. • Contribution to ERNO was required. • EBA was asked to exert its influence on keeping French canals open for boats with keels. d. EU Maritime Policy Reply and Update. The following summarises a communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: The Commission has put forward the main elements of a new European integrated maritime policy, including its founding principles and main objectives, the required governance framework and appropriate tools for integrated policy-making. All together, this represents the delivery of a new vision for Europe's oceans and seas as decided in the European Commission's Strategic Objectives for 2005-2009. The commission believes that the integrated approach is not only innovative, it is also strongly endorsed by all stakeholders who participated in the wide debate throughout Europe, during the consultation process following the launching of the Green Paper on a Future Maritime Policy for the Union. The integrated maritime policy with its overarching strategy provides an analytical framework and a selection of objectives to define the actions needed to attain its objectives and the overall goals of the new policy. This Action Plan enumerates a set of actions that the European Commission proposes to take as a first step towards the implementation of a new, integrated maritime policy for the European Union. Further information is available at http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/ e. Need for an EBA Regulatory Reference Guide. The Secretary expressed his concern about keeping such a document up to date unless every member was prepared to take ownership of informing the secretary of any changes to the data relevant to there own national circumstances. The secretary had send out a draft proposal for such a guide to members prior to the meeting but had had very little response which was not only disappointing but also did not bode well for maintaining a future document. After considerable discussion the secretary agreed to produce a further document for discussion at the Spring 2008 meeting when a decision would be taken on whether to proceed or not. ACTION 6: Secretary to produce an amended RRG for consideration by members in Spring 2008            Secretary f. Security of non-SOLAS vessels – Commission Initiative. This was covered in part by the ISAF report above. The Secretary is to represent the EBA at DG TREN Stakeholder Advisory Group on Maritime Security (SAGMaS) meetings and will submit a report to DG TREN and the IMO correspondence group in due course. g. Membership of AMRIE. The secretary explained that although the EBA had approved the EBA seeking membership of AMRIE, the fees were charges annual at the beginning of the year and not from the time of joining. he would approach AMRIE again at the beginning of January 2008. ACTION 7: Secretary to seek membership of AMRIE in January 2008     Secretary h. ‘CompCraft’ update All were fully briefed on the Comp Craft project in Oslo at the spring 2008 meeting. The Secretary had approached the project staff and the EBA had been recognised at the representative consul tee for recreational boating. However it appears that the project has not secured EU funding and will therefore not proceed. 7. Minutes of the Regulatory, Technical and Environmental Committees TECHNICAL COMMITTEE a. ISO TC188 • WG15 – Liferafts • WG 18 – Scantlings • WG22 – Stability • TC 188 Plenary b. International Standards Organisation TC8 c. International Standards Organisation SC6 d. Recreational Craft Directive – Recreational Sectoral Group e. ADCO f. Technical Requirements for Inland Waterway Vessels Directive g. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) REGULATORY COMMITTEE a. Sardinia Taxes b. ICC Update (See action at Agenda Item 6a) c. Maritime Policy “Blue” Paper d. Italian IMO Proposals for Amended Collision Regulations ACTION 8: Michael Clarke suggested that the EBA might wish to make a press statement to promote the work of the EBA generally, which could refer to the Italian proposal. EW proposed that the Secretariat should liaise with the President and Alan Green to produce a draft then circulate it to the delegates for publication.             Secretary e. Loss of Red Diesel Derogation ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE a. Minutes of the meeting held in Oslo on Saturday 21st April 2007. b. Matters arising from the minutes not covered in reports. c. Updates on reports from member countries. ACTION 9: Because of the reduced time available for the meeting, it was agreed to continue with updates on reports from member countries and that this should be only additional information to the reports given to the last meeting. This, and updates given to this meeting, would be combined by the secretary as an ongoing document to be updated at each meeting.             Neal Hill d. Water Framework Directive; River Basin Planning. e. Water Framework Directive. Report on lobbying activity in Brussels. f. Database of facilities. ACTION 10: To update the database of antifouling legislation in each of the member countries. All countries are to provide updated information and the secretary will collate this information into a paper to be circulated before the next meeting.                 ALL g. Disposal of old boats. h. Marine litter. i. Offshore wind farms. j. Any further business. § OSPAR Workshop on MPA Stakeholder Involvement. § Database of environmental information. § Windfarms. ACTION 11: Agreed that we collect information from member countries covering the number and locations of Windfarms. The current position, as understood by the secretariat, will be circulated with papers before the next meeting.            Neal Hill 8. Reports from EBA Member Bodies on matters of regional interest It was agreed that reports from the vice Presidents would be included under this item in future. 9. Reports from other bodies a. IMC. Dr Peter Jansen gave an update on the International Marina Committee 2008 conference at Oostende, Belgium and referred those present to the web site www.INC2008.com for more information b. NBF. Bob David gave his report on behalf of the NBF which is attached. c. EURMIG. Andrei Popescu gave a brief presentation on the EU Maritime policy and also mentioned that it was hoped to have and exhibition at the European Parliament in 2008. he would speak to the secretary and more detail would follow in due course regarding the EBA involvement. 10. EBA Administration and Finance a. EBA distribution list. The members list was passed to all members present for amendment and the importance of notifying contact detail changes was stressed again. b. Financial Report from Treasurer Hans W. Berglund (SBU), the treasurer circulated his report sowing the account for 2007 and the subscription fees for 2008. He pointed out the basic fee of €480 per member would remain the same and that €1.3/100 members would be invoiced on top of that. Hans explained that membership levels were examined every 4 years and it was now time for that exercise to be undertaken again. He asked all present to update their membership numbers accurately so that the fees charged to each individual association could be accurately apportioned. After discussion and explanation the accounts were accepted by all. ACTION 12: Each Association to let Treasurer have update membership numbers          ALL 11. Any Other Business A list of member club/associations abbreviations was asked for. The Secretary pointed out that these were available on the EBA Web site. 12. Forthcoming meetings Spring 2008 – It was agreed that the EBA should make an attempt to meet somewhere in the south of Europe. After some discussion it was agreed that Palma, Majorca would be a good, cost effective location and that the next meeting should be held over the weekend 18 -19 April 2007. Autumn 2008 – to be confirmed. ANNEXES: A. Minutes of the Technical and Regulatory Committee. B. Minutes of the Environmental committee. C. Minutes of the Inland Waterways meeting. D. NBF Report.