On Tuesday 23 January, Georges Gilkinet, Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Federal Minister for Mobility, presented the priorities of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU to members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN). He announced an ambitious timetable, aiming both to close as many files as possible and to introduce new ideas for the next term of office (see EUROPE 13316/14).
The minister highlighted the “intense work” already underway to bring the trilogues to a successful conclusion, thanks to “careful technical preparation to set the course”.
He first mentioned the revision of the 'Single European Sky’ framework, on which five Presidencies have previously failed to reach agreement (see EUROPE 13305/7). “We’re going to try and rise to the challenge to take advantage of the momentum and close the deal”, explained Mr Gilkinet. The text’s rapporteur, Marian-Jean Marinescu (EPP, Romanian), retorted that in two and a half years, the Council had granted only one negotiating mandate. “The Presidency is realistic but ambitious, and is committed to doing everything technically possible to achieve this”, replied Mr Gilkinet. He detailed the new working method put in place by Belgium in order to obtain a negotiating mandate at the end of February and hold a trilogue at the beginning of March.
With regard to maritime transport, Belgium has begun technical discussions with the European Parliament on the four legislative proposals in the package (see EUROPE 13309/5). Mr Gilkinet hopes to conclude the inter-institutional negotiations in the coming weeks. The last text, on the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), will be discussed at the June Council and should lead to a political agreement ('general approach').
For land and intermodal transport, Mr Gilkinet plans to reach a conclusion with the European Parliament on the regulation on the cross-border exchange of information on road traffic offences (see EUROPE 13304/14) and the revision of the rules on driving time and rest periods for drivers of occasional bus and coach services (see EUROPE 13294/11).
The Presidency also wishes to make progress on the revision of combined transport rules (see EUROPE 13289/34), coupled with discussions on lorry weights and dimensions (see EUROPE 13328/11). It is aiming for a political agreement in June on these issues as well as on the new rail management regulation (see EUROPE 13296/12).
Finally, Mr Gilkinet announced that he wanted the Presidency to be “one of the architects of tomorrow’s mobility”. “Transport must make its own contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and not just through technical solutions and sustainable fuels”, he said. At the ministerial meeting in April, Belgium will address two issues: - modal shift, to provide citizens and businesses with credible and affordable alternatives, and to stimulate rail freight; - active mobility, particularly cycling. (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)