The representatives of the European Parliament and the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union aim to reach, by the end of February, an interinstitutional agreement on the revision of the Directive (2008/96/EC) on road infrastructure safety management.
This is what emerged from the first meeting of interinstitutional negotiations ('trilogues') held on Wednesday 23 January in Brussels. This confirms the words of the Romanian Acting Minister of Transport, Rovana Plumb, who had announced this objective to the European Parliament's Transport Committee on Tuesday 22 January (see EUROPE 12178).
This discussion echoes the European Commission's proposal presented last year as part of the third mobility package (see EUROPE 12022). The Council in December (see EUROPE 12151, 12141), then the Parliament on 10 January (see EUROPE 12169) adopted their negotiating position allowing the start of the trilogues.
From our information, it seems that this meeting took place in a peaceful atmosphere. The co-legislators have identified the main points to be discussed in the coming weeks. This applies in particular to definitions, notably that of primary roads, and the scope of the future revised directive, road signs and signals and the nature of the annexes with regard to assessments and inspections on the road network.
The approach supported by the Council gives Member States more flexibility in the implementation of the text. The text defended by the Parliament, inspired by the draft report by Daniela Aiuto (ELDD, Italy) (see EUROPE 12111), advocates extending the scope of the text to bridges and tunnels in particular. It is difficult here not to make a link with the collapse of the Genoa motorway bridge last August (see EUROPE 12077).
The next political trilogue is scheduled for 5 February. (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)