Brussels, 21/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - Irish Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar has said to MEPs that time is ticking against them, as the transport files pile up and the mandate of the European Parliament's transport and tourism (TRAN) committee becomes shorter. It seems that the Irish Presidency intends to work twice as hard in order to close a large number of files that are currently in progress, and in addition it intends to start work on three legislative proposals awaited from the Commission (fourth railway package, clean fuels, and air passenger rights).
Varadkar gave details of his priorities to TRAN committee MEPs on Monday 21 January. He assured them that he was going to concentrate on the role of facilitator to find agreements, to avoid watering good proposals down to the lowest common denominator, and to avoid dilutions and opt outs. It is not necessary to force national agendas either, he said. He says the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) is the top priority - an area on which the Parliament and European Council need to find agreement. He says he does not under-estimate the task but, as the Council has the will to succeed, he is optimistic for an agreement. What is more worrying is of course the budgets to be allocated to TEN-T, as well as to the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). On this subject, he says that he is crossing his fingers and that it remains to be seen what will happen as the CEF budget is not yet guaranteed. He says however, that he will do his best to work effectively so that it is a success.
Another sizeable file is the airport package, which is composed of three areas on which the Council has already made its decision. Varadkar therefore says that he is awaiting the Parliament's verdict on ground-handling services and that he hopes the Parliament will be able to find a way out of this so that a successful conclusion can be reached. On other issues, he says he hopes to see an agreement on the tachograph, and wants to progress on the harmonisation of marine equipment, motor overhaul tests, maritime safety, and on the blue belt.
The Irish Presidency is ready and waiting for three proposals from the Commission. The first and not the least of these is the fourth railway package, which Varadkar considers a great priority and which is being followed very carefully. He hopes that the Commission will not be late and says that the Irish Presidency will only progress on the technical aspects. The other expected proposals concern air passenger rights and clean fuels. On this, Varadkar hopes to find a consensus at the Council because the EU is able to take the helm on this issue.
Members of the TRAN committee asked him to put pressure on the member states to bring about the functional airspace blocks in the Single European Sky, and on the Commission to present the fourth railway package as quickly as possible. (MD/transl.fl)