Brussels, 02/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - Cyprus will make maritime transport a priority in the second half of this year, as witnessed by the presidency's boat logo. Directly following on from the Danish presidency, the Cypriots will pursue discussions on the airport package and, in overland transport, only road transport will be tackled.
Maritime progress. That Cyprus is an island is ample justification for maritime questions being on the top of the presidency agenda, as pointed out by the Cypriot minister, Andreas Mavroyiannis, Deputy European Affairs Minister, who intends to work with the Commission to relaunch the integrated maritime policy. The minister told Agence Europe that “this is not just transport, it is essential that over the next few years we enhance connectedness between all EU countries, with the outside and between the most isolated parts of Europe, the islands with the mainland. This is a very big challenge to be met and I think that working on transport infrastructure is a very good investment for Europe's future”. During the Transport Councils, the Presidency will be seeking to obtain a partial general approach, in first reading, on the Maritime Labour Convention package, which relates to flag state responsibilities and working conditions for seafarers (Council of 29 October). The work carried out by Cyprus over the next few months is also expected to result in a partial approach on expanding the remit of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) (Council of 20 December).
Airport Package. Nicosia is also expected to make substantial progress in negotiations on the airport package, by adding a general approach on the section relating to flight slots (October Council) to the approaches already obtained on the two other sections by the Danish Presidency. This, however, is the most controversial part of the Commission proposal. The Presidency is expected to examine the three sections during the December Council.
Road vehicles. The work of the Presidency for over-land transport will focus on road vehicles. Cyprus will begin an exploratory debate in October on roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers, with the hope of reaching a general approach in December. The Commission is expected to propose an amendment to the directive on the parameters to be respected and how they are monitored. The Cypriot Presidency will also be pursuing discussions on driving time control apparatuses and rest time for transport drivers (tachograph). The Danish Presidency has just achieved a partial general approach on ending the current regulation in order to reduce fraud. Cyprus will also continue work on satellites, the GMES monitoring programme and governance and funding for Galileo over the 2014-2020 period. The Cypriot presidency will be promoting multimodal transport and the interconnection of different kinds of transport. (MD/transl.fl)