It is official: from 23 June 2026, certificates of qualification based on examination organised under the responsibility of an administrative authority, service record books and logbooks issued by Serbia will be recognised by the EU and the CCNR.  

Source: Adobe Stock

In practical terms, this means that holders of the new certificates issued by Serbia will be able to navigate on EU and CCNR waterways without any formalities. This facilitated mobility is excellent news at a time of a significant shortage of personnel in Europe. 

This recognition is reciprocal. 

The Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1179 of 1 June 2026 granting recognition in the Union, pursuant to Directive (EU) 2017/2397, has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 3 June 2026. The Decision shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal. For its part, the CCNR had already amended the Regulations for Rhine Navigation Personnel (RPN) to enable an automatic recognition as soon as the EU finalises a recognition procedure. 

The models of recognised certificates, service record books and logbooks are available for download on CESNI’s website.