Earlier today, Minister of Sustainable Development and Infrastructure, François Bausch, presented the priorities of the Luxembourg Presidency in the field of transport.
Minister Bausch opened proceedings by stating that the issue of highest priority was the political pillar of the 4th Railway Package, which aims to create a truly European network of rail tracks and routes. The Minister claimed that after the excellent results of the Latvian Presidency which ran from January to June 2015, the Luxembourg Presidency will now focus on governance and public service contracts, aiming to reach a political agreement for the Council on 8 October 2015 to begin discussions with the European Parliament thereafter. The specifities of the different Member States were promised to be taken into account.
Minister Bausch claimed that there were still important considerations to be made in the aviation sector, specifically with regards to the rights of air passengers and to the Single European Sky (SES) II, the objective of the latter being to increase the economic, financial and environmental performance of European Air Navigation Services.
The Minister stressed that Parliament and Council legislators need to enhance their role in this area, and stated that the Presidency will for its part examine the various options available in moving the case of passenger rights forward. A compromise on the fundamental issues does not seem to have been excluded.
It was announced that the Presidency expects to receive the Commission's new proposals for an 'aviation package' towards the end of 2015, which would then be presented to the Transport Council in December and allow the incoming Dutch Presidency, running from January until June 2016, to begin work on the texts concerned.
Sustainable development was additionally cited as a major priority for the next six months with two important events planned, these being the Special Summit on Sustainable Development in September in New York and the COP21 Climate Change meeting in December in Paris. The air quality package will represent a significant priority for the Luxembourg Presidency. Negotiations at the COP21 conference are expected to lead to the adoption of a new treaty as well as an overall participation agreement, with the treaty helping to maintain global warming below two degrees. The transport sector is directly involved in strategies for decarbonisation and emission reduction.
A ministerial debate on the pillars of the European policy of long-term transport is expected for October. The ministers will present their ideas to the Commission ahead of the revision of the White Paper 'Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area', a project developed through forty concrete transport initiatives, scheduled for next year. The aim of the Luxembourg Presidency in this context was stated as the promotion of efficient, safe, reliable, accessible and socially-responsible mobility, in accordance with a development of a transport industry which is sustainable, innovative and generates quality jobs.
The Luxembourg Presidency claimed it was aware of the need for infrastructure financing in the field of transport, and the European Council of Ministers has reportedly held multiple discussions and confirmations on the importance of investment in transport infrastructure, particularly in view of current economic growth targets. The Luxembourg Presidency will reaffirm this message at the Summit.
A report on urban mobility, which has already received over 500 amendments, has been discussed within the Transport and Tourism Committee of the European Parliament, and will tackle issues such as more effective transport and solutions to the time wasting of traffic jams.
The Minister reported that soft mobility could be the answer to these questions, with the bicycle playing an important role at the future informal ministerial meeting on 7 October 2015 in Luxembourg. The subject will be added to the agenda, along with discussions of all potential means of promoting cycling in Europe.
This subject branched into a consideration of vital aspects of road safety, with the Minister confirming that the topic will be included in all the debates, as well as in the White Paper on urban mobility and social issues. Minister Bausch claimed that a cooperation with Commissioner Bulc intends to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on roads. The social aspects of road transport were also elaborated upon, with the pledge to pursue the working conditions of truck drivers, both now and during the ministerial debate of the December Council.
A general approach was reached at the 'Transport' Council of June regarding the proposal on technical requirements for barges, and interinstitutional negotiations should be rapidly launched and an official agreement soon reached.
Regarding the file on port services, the Luxembourg Presidency explained that a conclsuion depended on the parliamentary calendar, stating that the expectation of the EP's first reading in mid-December would mean that it would fall outside of the purview of the Luxembourg Presidency. However, the Minister claimed that the Presidency will collect the positions of the Member States' on the proposed EP amendments, in order to prepare negotiations for the Dutch Presidency.
Photo by Sarah Graham (Minister for Sustainable Development and Infrastructure, François Bausch)
