The European Commissioner for Transport, Adina Vălean, announced on Tuesday 28 April, before the members of the European Parliament's Transport Committee (TRAN), the forthcoming adoption by the European Commission of a "package" of four initiatives aimed at "easing the pressure" on the sector's players as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
This new package should contain: - an aviation relief package; - a legislative proposal for the extension of certificates and licences (see EUROPE 12449/3); - an extension of the deadline for transposition of the fourth railway package (see EUROPE 11689/6); - amendments to the port service regulation to reduce infrastructure charges.
More coordination. The Commission is also working to implement recommendations for a coordinated resumption of mobility in the EU, as part of the EU's lockdown exit strategy.
"We need to be prepared for the moment when travel will be restored. Coordination will be key to allow a smooth and gradual restating of connectivity across all modes without compromising on the health of travellers and workers", said Vălean, noting that the restoration of connectivity would not occur at the same time for all states.
"If there is one sector where we must avoid clashes with national measures, it is transport", acknowledged TRAN Committee chair Karima Delli (Greens/EFA, France).
Johan Danielsson (S&D, Sweden) asked what will be done to ensure that Member States do not opt for national solutions in times of crisis in the future. The Commissioner explained, for example, that she intended to maintain the network of national contact points established to ensure the smooth flow of road traffic (see EUROPE 12449/1). "We have learned our lesson", she said.
Air passenger rights. Ms Vălean has also been questioned on several occasions on the issue of reimbursement for cancelled flights.
The proposal by many air carriers and national governments (see EUROPE 12466/11, 12473/4) to pay passengers through vouchers "would be a well-balanced compromise between passengers' rights and airlines' need for cash", highlighted Barbara Thaler (EPP, Austria).
However, Ms Vălean pointed out that the Commission had already helped companies to deal with the liquidity crisis - "through state aid or slot regulation", for example - and reiterated her commitment to the right of air passengers to opt for reimbursement (see EUROPE 12459/7).
The S&D group welcomed this position, while reiterating its proposal to create a European Fund to guarantee bonds against the risk of bankruptcy (see EUROPE 12473/3).
"We are now thinking about the budget for the restart package. So I think it’s not easy to find money for such a European travel fund. But at the Member States level, I encourage all of them to find their guarantee scheme as Denmark is doing in a very successful way", said Adina Vălean .
State aid to the aviation sector. On the question of environmental compensation for State aid to airlines (see EUROPE 12469/18), the Commissioner's position has not changed either.
However, she recognised the right of Member States to decide on the conditions under which they intend to grant financial assistance.
In response to Ciarán Cuffe (Greens/EFA, Ireland), who lamented that "airlines have avoided addressing climate change in recent years", Ms Vălean conceded that in future "all investments made in the transport sector with European money will have to meet environmental and sustainable requirements".
Finally, the Commissioner provided assurances that in 2020, the Commission would present its strategy on sustainable and intelligent mobility, which should "integrate the revival of the transport sector" (see EUROPE 12430/12). (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)