Brussels, 19/12/2012 (Agence Europe) - A partial approach on common rules on roadworthiness tests is due to be adopted by the Transport Council on Thursday 20 December. However, the Council is expected to tone down the European Commission's proposal on this subject. Ministers are also expected to support the Commission's communication on the EU's external aviation policy, and to adopt conclusions refining their position in relation to big third countries such as Brazil and China. The EU27 are also expected to receive further information from the Commission on the latest developments on the emission trading system (ETS) for aviation, and from the Cypriot Presidency on the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and on the EGNOS and Galileo space projects.
Roadworthiness tests. The Council prefers to almost freeze the current situation on roadworthiness tests rather than pursue the Commission's proposals setting minimum requirements in Europe. In the general approach that they should adopt on Thursday, the ministers are not expected to subscribe to the increased frequency of roadworthiness tests (every year after two years) and their extension to more vehicles (scooters, light trailers and motorcycles), as the Commission would like. Furthermore, the Council would prefer the new legislation to take the form of a directive, which would ensure more flexibility than a regulation. The Commission therefore has several reservations on the reversal wanted by the Council. The Council, on the other hand, is due to approve the introduction of common higher standards as regards the equipment and training of staff for the roadworthiness tests. The Council has supplied a substantial amount of work in appendix on the technical details and control modalities.
External relations in aviation. The Council is due to give an approach to the Commission for the future of the EU's external relations regarding aviation. It will adopt conclusions following the Commission's communication on this subject, which was published in September. The member states are expected to give the Commission their green light to begin work on air agreements with key countries, replacing the 27 bilateral agreements and improving the competitiveness of European aviation. The Council therefore urges Brazil to immediately sign an initial agreement, and wants to sign one as quickly as possible with China too. The ministers plan others with Turkey, India, Russia and some Gulf and ASEAN countries. The Transport Council will also confirm the signing of an EU-Israel air agreement, which opens the markets reciprocally and assures the convergence of Israeli regulation with EU legislation.
Connecting Europe. The Cypriot Presidency will update the EU delegations on work on the CEF - the financial tool intended to boost investment in transport, energy and telecoms infrastructure. An initial general partial approach has been approved by the Council on this but it does not fix the financial arrangements which depend on the negotiations on the 2014-2020 multiannual financial framework. In the meantime, the details on the financial regulation have been reworked, without knowing how much the CEF will have at its disposal. The innovative financing tools, such as project bonds, still have to be discussed, as well as the priority investments in the telecoms infrastructure. The European Parliament adopted its position in parliamentary committee on Tuesday 18 December (see EUROPE 10753).
EGNOS and Galileo. The Cypriot Presidency will give a similar update on the financing and governance of the European satellite navigation systems, EGNOS and Galileo. This follows the general partial approach on a draft regulation proposed by the Commission on this subject. In this case too the budgetary envelope is hanging in the air. There are apparently three points to be settled - the inclusion of development applications (a request by the Parliament), the powers to be given to the Commission, and the governance of these programmes.
ETS. The member states are due to receive information from the Commission on the latest developments on the ETS applied to aviation. This has been suspended for flights outside the EU for a year. The Commission is of the opinion that negotiations with the International Civil Aviation Organisation are moving in the right direction.
Lastly, the delegations will also be informed by the Irish minister of his transport priorities during the next rotating presidency of the EU. The Transport Council will be followed by the official signature of an agreement between the EU and Eurocontrol on strengthening cooperation. (MD/transl.fl)