Sanna Marin, the Finnish Minister of Transport, told MEPs of the European Parliament's Transport Committee on Wednesday 24 July that she was ready to open interinstitutional negotiations ('trilogues') with MEPs on the delicate social and market aspects of the first ‘mobility’ package (posting of lorry drivers, rest periods and driving time, tachograph, cabotage, market access).
It will be a question of trying to "find solutions" to satisfy everyone on these issues, the minister said, as she came to present the priorities of the Finnish Presidency of the Council of the EU to the European Parliament. "We will do our best to achieve results", she added.
After the Member States (see EUROPE 12229/1), then the MEPs (see EUROPE 12152/10) have established their negotiating position after long discussions and many twists and turns, the trilogues can indeed a priori begin. Violeta Bulc, the Commissioner for Transport Policy, who came to discuss with parliamentarians on the same day, welcomed the fact that Helsinki is ready to start negotiations on this issue, which she said is one of the most urgent issues to be resolved.
However, it is possible that several Central and Eastern European MEPs, dissatisfied with the European Parliament's position at first reading, may attempt, after the summer break, to manoeuvre to return to it, as acknowledged by a European source.
Many questions on the first ‘mobility’ package were also put to Mrs Marin and Mrs Bulc, proof of the persistence of the sensitive nature of this set of texts on the negotiating table. "I am confident that we can additionally improve the package to accommodate some challengers in certain regions", said Ms Bulc. "But, of course, this won't be maximal satisfaction for everyone", she added. She also recalled that the dossier on combined transport was linked to this first ‘mobility’ package (see EUROPE 12223/2).
Among the other Helsinki priorities during this semester, the Finnish Minister of Transport mentioned the desire to reach a political agreement ('general approach') in the Council of the EU on rail passengers' rights and obligations and road infrastructure charges. This is at a time when new draft compromises on these issues have recently been tabled by the former Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU (see EUROPE 12273/2, 12272/5).
Mrs Marin also aims to provide a general approach to the technical file on the streamlining measures for advancing the realisation of the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) (see EUROPE 12270/7). And it wants to start the trilogues on the electronic exchange of information in freight, an issue that is part of the third ‘mobility’ package (see EUROPE 12270/8, EUROPE 12212/32).
Work should continue in Council of the EU working groups on the possible end of the biannual time change, although it seems difficult today to reach a political agreement between Member States (see EUROPE 12272/4). This is despite the fact that the European Parliament adopted its position at first reading in March, advocating the end of the time change in the EU for 2021 (see EUROPE 12222/10). And Mrs Marin announced that the dossier on air passenger rights would be put back on the Council of the EU's agenda (see EUROPE 11334/7).
Mrs Bulc also mentioned the need to definitively conclude the file on the Connecting Europe Facility 2021-2027, which was the subject of a partial interinstitutional agreement, but which was dependent on the negotiations on the multiannual financial framework (see EUROPE 12270/7). The Commissioner also wants Member States to agree on hired vehicles without a driver, so that the trilogues can start (see EUROPE 12210/5).
Finally, Mrs Marin announced that two meetings of the Transport Council would be held this semester, one on 20 September, devoted to long-term problems in the sector, and the other in December. (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)