 On 22 December 1986, the Council of Ministers adopted four Regulations which lay the foundations for most of EC shipping law.In the 1990s and 2000s so far, the law has developed in various areas including competition and anti-trust law but also in the areas as safety, the environment, ports and employment.In principle, all EU shipowners are free to provide maritime services either between Member States or within Member States (i.e., provide cabotage services).