Brussels, 29/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - Key subjects discussed at the Transport Council on Thursday 31 March will be the Galileo satellite radio navigation system and maritime issues. Ministers will meet under the chairmanship of Pál Völner, Hungary's Secretary of State for Infrastructure, to reach general guidelines on the public regulated service (PRS) provided by Galileo, to take note of a progress report on extending the scope of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), and to seek adoption of a position on the EU's accession to the Athens Convention. The Council is also expected to give its go-ahead to triggering talks with Switzerland with a view to including cabotage in the EU/Switzerland air agreement and authorising the signing of a memorandum of cooperation on safety and security with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Galileo. Ministers are expected to confirm the consensus reached at Coreper (Committee of Permanent Representatives) on 22 March on the rules for access to the public regulated service (PRS) provided by Galileo for the public authorities (especially the police). Ministers are expected to agree on a general approach on the draft decision that the European Commission presented last October. According to the Council's position, the PRS should provide unlimited and uninterrupted access not only for member states but also for the Commission, the Council and European External Action Service (EEAS) worldwide. Member states wishing to use PRS or producing PRS receivers must designate a PRS authority responsible for managing and monitoring end-users, and the manufacture of PRS receivers must be in accordance with common minimum standards. The production of PRS receivers will require an accreditation process.
While there is consensus among member states on the position, the Commission has expressed reservation on a series of points that limit its competence, mainly with regard to the procedure for adoption of common minimum standards (the Council is opposed to these being established by delegated acts and calls on the Commission to ensure full participation by national experts), respect of these standards (the Commission hopes to be empowered to conduct audits and checks), and the protection of classified information. Here also, the Commission wishes to have greater authority than member states are willing to confer upon it, proposing special provisions applicable to data protection. According to the Council, the legislation in force on the protection of classified information is quite sufficient.
The Council is also expected to adopt conclusions approving the Commission's report on mid-term review of the Galileo programme and of its precursor, EGNOS. Ministers are expected to acknowledge that the additional financial cost of the two programmes must be met by the Community budget and call on the Commission to put forward concrete proposals on this.
Maritime. The Council is expected to take note of the state of play as regards a proposed modification of the current regulation of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), put forward by the Commission last October (see EUROPE 10246). Delegations will be invited to take a stance on the two points that pose the greatest difficulty, namely the proposed extension of EMSA's tasks, on the one hand, and the changes to its governance structure, on the other. A number of member states are opposed to transferring competence from the EMSA administrative board, on which national representatives are represented, to a Commission executive director. Regarding the extension of competences, the Commission proposal provides for the agency to be entrusted with the right to intervene in case of pollution caused by oil and gas installations, to cooperate with neighbouring countries and to seek participation in research. It also stresses that the system for the exchange of maritime data managed by EMSA, SafeSeaNet, should be enhanced and its role increased in maritime surveillance and EU policies. A number of delegations are, however, opposed to EMSA playing a greater role in the field of maritime safety and research.
The Council is also expected to determine its position on the draft decision concerning EU accession, by 31 December at the latest, to the 2002 protocol of the Convention of Athens, which deals with questions relating to the liability of maritime carriers towards passengers and their luggage. Most provisions have been integrated into European law with the adoption of the third maritime package, while others (such as higher liability limits) require individual accession by each member state. The United Kingdom and Ireland will at this stage benefit from an opt-out. At London's request, during the work, the Council has had to amend the legal basis for the decision including elements relating to police cooperation (Article 81 of the Treaty). Denmark has also benefited from an opt-out in this respect and has already stated its intention to sign up to the convention. (A.By./transl.jl)