Brussels, 01/07/2015 (Agence Europe) - Luxembourg has made the 4th rail package the number one transport issue for its presidency, according to its priorities published on Wednesday 1 July.
The Luxembourg Presidency will work to realise the objectives of European transport policy which seeks to promote efficient, safe, reliable, accessible and socially responsible mobility, it states in its document, A Union for the citizens.
The Luxembourg Presidency is looking to make progress on the political pillar of the 4th rail package by October. Agreement has been reached between the Council and the European Parliament on the technical pillar after long months of debate. MEPs would like to be able to approve the package as a whole, that is, comprising both the political and technical pillars, but this desire does not seem to be shared among all the member states, with France in particular reluctant (see EUROPE 11347).
Elsewhere, Luxembourg will seek to move forward on technical requirements in inland shipping. In June, transport ministers reached agreement, thereby opening the negotiation phase between the Parliament and the Council (see EUROPE 11333). “Since the Council didn't change the substance, prospects for the negotiations look very promising”, a source told EUROPE.
The Presidency will also examine the social dimension underlying transport that has been thrust into the spotlight in recent months because of Germany's minimum wage in the transport sector (see EUROPE 11317).
The Grand Duchy intends, too, to do more on sustainable mobility, the key pillars of which are integrated urban planning and soft mobility, in its view. In May, the European Parliament's transport and tourism committee debated the draft report on sustainable mobility by Karima Delli (Greens, France), which is due to be put to the vote in committee in July and then in plenary session after the summer break (see EUROPE 11323). The new Presidency is planning to hold an informal meeting to discuss this issue on 7 October, ahead of the Transport Council.
Lastly, the Luxembourg Presidency will hold a debate on European transport policy on 8 October, as part of the review of the 2011 White Paper. (Pascal Hansens)