On Thursday 17 May, the European Commission presented three draft regulations as part of the third “mobility” package: on electronic freight transport information, establishing the interoperability of the European Maritime Single Window environment and streamlining measures for advancing the realisation of the trans-European transport network (TEN-T). This will involve encouraging the digitalisation of transport information exchanges and making them simpler.
These three initiatives are obviously covered by the “digitalisation” section in this third and final mobility package, which also includes initiatives on pollution and road safety (see other articles).
More electronic information sharing in freight. This draft regulation from the European Commission seeks to respond to the needs of freight transport, which is experiencing constant growth. The Commission points out that almost 99% of the information required by the national authorities to carry out cross-border transport operations are now provided on paper and that digitalisation, as experienced by society at large, could, “significantly improve the efficiency of transport and therefore contribute to the smooth functioning of the single market”. The legal and logistical barriers, however, (lack of system interoperability) currently appear to be hampering digitalisation development in freight transport.
In an effort to overcome these obstacles, the Commission is proposing to regulate the electronic exchange of information through a mainly technical proposal. Therefore, if an economic operator would like to transmit the information required to the appropriate authorities and interlocutors, it should be able to do so by way of eFTI platforms certified by the national authorities, which would be subsequently recognised in the European Union. At the same time, the member states would be expected to agree for this information to be transmitted electronically.
The draft regulation also suggests that the Commission adopts, on the basis of delegated acts, rules for the electronic platforms and the electronic service providers.
Establishing a European Maritime Single Window environment. The second initiative involves the simplification of electronic information exchanges in transport through the interoperability of single maritime windows by way of a draft regulation abrogating directive 2010/65/EU. This will be done to reduce administrative costs involved in maritime transport.
Although the member states have national single maritime windows for simplifying national procedures relating to the required administrative procedures when a ship arrives or leaves port, the interfaces involved are not harmonised at a European Union level.
This proposal is therefore suggesting that the Commission establish a list of factors that can be requested when entering or leaving port and which will be based on international, EU or national standards. A harmonised interface would then be developed, particularly in terms of a European Union format and codes and the member states would be expected to ensure that their single national windows are compatible with it. Although the national procedures required are not necessarily the same, the harmonised interface would allow stakeholders to have a clearer grasp of the administrative procedures required in each state.
Speeding up procedures for TEN-T projects. The final initiative for simplifying transport procedures involves a draft regulation for streamlining measures for the realisation of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).
According to the Commission, completion of the TEN-T project would generate the profits of more than €4.5 trillion. Although this completion could have significant positive impacts, more than €500 billion in investment is needed between 2021-2030 on the TEN-T core network and €1.5 trillion on the comprehensive network.
The Commission is aware that the complicated administrative procedures and regulatory uncertainty over investments in TEN-T projects are leading to an increase in costs and delays and it is therefore looking at solutions that would particularly involve savings in costs, efficiency and time.
The Commission is therefore proposing that the procedures for candidacies, assessment and allocation of projects of common interest involve the TEN-T core network and are dealt with by single authority in a member state (obviously with special provisions for cross-border projects). It also calls for these projects to be given priority status when the status exists in national law. Any candidacy or selection procedure should also, in principle, not exceed three years. (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)