The French Minister of Transport, Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, presented the priorities of the French Presidency of the Council of the EU (FPEU) to the members of the European Parliament’s Transport Committee on Wednesday 2 February.
“We have very ambitious targets for 2030 and we have to achieve them”, he said, adding: “It is the credibility of the European Union that is at stake”.
During its mandate, France will focus on the various components of the ‘Fit For 55’ package, presented by the European Commission on 14 July 2021 (see EUROPE 12762/1). This package of texts should make it possible to achieve a 55% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
In detail, the efforts of the FPEU will firstly focus on the deployment of alternative fuel infrastructure within the EU (see EUROPE 12862/9). “We need to reassure Europeans, both individuals and professionals. The fear of not being able to recharge one’s vehicle is still a barrier to purchase and we need to deploy a real network of electric and hydrogen charging points”, said Mr Djebbari.
The texts on the integration of sustainable fuels in the aviation (‘ReFuelEU Aviation’) (see EUROPE 12881/10) and maritime transport (‘FuelEU Maritime’) (see EUROPE 12882/5) sectors will also be discussed.
On both issues, the Minister insisted on the need to preserve the competitiveness of the sectors and to maintain a high level of ambition, while keeping in mind the need to limit potential carbon leakage.
“The aim is to solve the problem; we cannot allow it to move outside the EU”, he stressed.
In addition, the railway sector will also be one of the priorities of the FPEU. In this respect, the French Minister of Transport has expressed his commitment to working on the transfer of the road sector to rail, in particular by redeveloping an efficient network for night trains. This, he said, would require “cooperation between Member States”. Similarly, he detailed, support will be needed for freight train operators.
An end to practices contrary to EU values
Furthermore, the FPEU intends to focus on regulation of the transport sector. “We have to be clear, liberalisation has its benefits, but it has also been accompanied by inadequate social regulation, with social practices that are unworthy of European values”.
The Minister insisted on the need to put an end as soon as possible to the abuses and practices that lead airline pilots to have to pay for some of their flight hours themselves (‘pay to fly’) or that lead ship owners to register their fleet in certain countries with lighter regulations.
“As regards maritime transport, working conditions should be at least equal to those of one of the two riparian countries on regular routes. On air transport, we will also ensure that the application of the agreement to open up the skies with Qatar is exemplary from an environmental and social point of view”, Mr Djebbari detailed.
Finally, the FPEU wants to work on the issues of innovation and sovereignty, promoting the production of autonomous and connected vehicles and biofuels within the EU.
While a majority of MEPs welcomed the ambitions of the French Presidency of the EU Council, some expressed doubts and regrets.
“It is already February and not much has happened. I doubt, if you continue in this way, that you will be able to achieve the objectives”, said Marian-Jean Marinescu (EPP, Romania). “You didn’t mention them, but some files have been blocked at the EU Council for years. I am thinking in particular of passenger rights in aviation and airport slots”, added the Romanian MEP. (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)