What initiatives, tools, investments are needed for a sustainable and digital recovery of the transport sector?
Invited to detail their position on the subject on Thursday 4 June by videoconference, the competent European ministers pleaded in particular for a revival that gives room and space for the rail sector.
Ministers from 23 EU countries - missing were Croatia, Estonia, Malta and Cyprus - as well as those from Switzerland and Norway, issued a statement calling for rail to be made a more competitive and attractive alternative.
This declaration, consulted by EUROPE, advocates notably for the creation of a platform that would allow the signatory States “cooperation on improving international rail passenger services” within the framework of the Green Deal.
The videoconference also made it possible to address the issue of the structural revival of international rail passenger transport, as well as that of rail freight.
Help the airline industry evolve
That doesn't mean we're giving up the plane. The ministers insisted on the necessary revival of the aviation sector, accompanied, however, by a reduction in emissions.
Like the Netherlands, Spain, France, Germany, Finland and Luxembourg - which issued a declaration calling on the EU to step up its efforts to make the aviation sector more sustainable (see EUROPE 12498/9) - several states stressed the potential of sustainable fuels to reduce emissions from the aviation sector.
The importance of launching the pilot phase of the European Carbon Offset Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA - see EUROPE 12487/19) was also mentioned.
In addition, discussions focused on the modernisation and digitisation of air traffic management (ATM) and the need to ensure a fair social transition in this field (see EUROPE 12498/12). According to Member States, sustainability should “not be limited to the greening of the sector”, the EU Council said in a statement.
Necessary investments and further work
Stressing the crucial role of transport from an environmental point of view as well as for the European economy and world trade, Croatian Minister Oleg Butković considered that the sector should be “broadly considered in the discussions on the new budget” for the period 2021-2027.
Member States also agreed that, as transport was particularly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, financial support needs to be provided.
In her keynote speech, Transport Commissioner Adina Vălean pointed out that investment is needed to complete the TEN-T Trans-European Transport Network by 2030, to stimulate the supply and adoption of new technologies for sustainable fuels and to promote intelligent traffic management systems.
Furthermore, ministers stressed that some legislative proposals still under negotiation will also contribute to making the sector more sustainable. The Austrian Leonore Gewessler called for “intensive” work to be continued, particularly on the revision of the Eurovignette Directive.
In addition, the draft EU Council conclusions on the EU Waterborne Transport Sector (see EUROPE 12444/2) were welcomed by Ministers. The written procedure that will enable the EU Council to adopt these conclusions was launched on Wednesday.
Commitments of future Presidencies
The implementation of “safe, innovative and connective” transport is also expected to be among the priorities of the next Trio of EU Council Presidencies.
According to the provisional programme for the next 18 months drawn up by the German, Portuguese and Slovenian governments, of which EUROPE has obtained a copy, this Trio intends to promote sustainable alternative fuels and interoperable connectivity in Europe through the TEN-T network.
The Trio says they “look forward to the Strategy for sustainable and smart mobility and is committed to start working on key proposals”.
Lastly, the three future Presidencies emphasise the importance of ensuring that the proper functioning of supply chains in the EU can be guaranteed in the event of a future crisis.
See the provisional programme: https://bit.ly/374h5AZ (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)