"This paper analyzes the role that European Union and its institutions are having in the effective incorporation of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 in the laws of the Member States which, as can still today be seen, is in process of amending and adopting future new standards in this regards. In this sense, the European Union encouraged Member states to ratify this Convention in an early 2007 Decision. Also, even when it is true that the European Union has no capacity to represent the Member States before the International Labour Organization, it is acting in such a way that, regardless of whether the Member States have not yet ratified this important Convention, its implementation can be effective by way of the use of regulatory mechanisms that this supranational body holds to that effect. It should be noted in this context that, although the reasons that moved the European Union to develop these regulations lie in the needs of its transport policy and the necessity to raise its competitiveness in a sector as crucial as the maritime industry, this work is considered very positive because it will predictably increase the standard of living and protection level of seafarers. Hence, it will overcome the traditional inertia of the European Union to forget this group of workers as subjects included in its social policy standards. "

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