Brussels, 07/01/2015 (Agence Europe) - The Latvian presidency's energy in the transport field will focus on the political pillar of the 4th railway package. A general orientation on the sensitive railway reform is planned for the June Transport Council. In the aviation arena, the presidency will find both its feet and hands tied if it is unable to find a bilateral solution to the problem of Gibraltar.
Railways. The presidency had already got down to the task involved in this domain as soon as its mandate began by bringing a number of different amendments to the draft compromise on railway governance, the opening up of the passenger transport market and allocation of public service contracts, which constitute the political basis of the proposal. The presidency's work programme indicated that it intended to make progress on the subject on the basis of a substantial progress report put together under the Italian presidency. The Transport Councils' provisional agenda mentioned holding a political debate between European transport ministers on 13 March next and the possibility of developing a general orientation on the two appropriate regulations, on 11 June. The presidency would also like to finalise the negotiations currently being held with the European Parliament on the technical pillar. All the different working groups at the Council on terrestrial transport are expected to be mobilised in an effort to conclude discussions on the 4th railway package over the next few months, according to an announcement made by a source close to the dossier.
Aviation. The Presidency has also indicated that it is interested in the subject of remotely piloted aircraft systems as part of its work programme and announced that a political discussion on the subject would be held during a high-level conference on 5-6 March (the Commission published a communication on the subject last April, see EUROPE 11056). The presidency has limited room for manoeuvre in the aviation field for pushing forward on-going dossiers in this area, due to the blockage resulting from the dispute between the United Kingdom and Spain over the question of Gibraltar (see EUROPE 11224). Nonetheless, the presidency says that it is, “open to continuing work on the Single Sky 2+, revision of airline passenger rights and landing and take off slot times, if there is a solution to the bilateral problem between the countries concerned”. A ministerial meeting on aviation is planned before the March Transport Council. This Council is expected to come up with a substantial progress report on the revision of airline passenger rights, which will particularly focus on technical aspects.
Maritime. It is also possible that the presidency will begin inter-institutional trialogue meetings on the liberalisation of port services (Port package) but is more likely to wait for an indication to be given from the European Parliament on the subject. A general orientation on the Naiades II package on inland river way transport, could also possibly be obtained during the June Transport Council. (MD)