The European transport ministers will meet on Thursday 5 December to adopt their negotiating positions on three texts: the two regulations on passenger rights and the directive on driving disqualifications. They will also discuss, among other things, the situation of the automotive industry, transport poverty and the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).
Right to drive. Presented by the European Commission in March 2023, the directive on driving disqualifications is part of the road safety package (see EUROPE 13435/12). In its position, the Council removed disqualification decisions for a period of less than 3 months and with a remaining period of less than one month.
The national contact point(s) designated by the Member States would have access to the EU driving licence network (RESPER) and would ensure cooperation with the competent authorities. The Member State where the offence was committed may also impose a period of prohibition on the re-issuing of a licence, during which it may decide not to recognise the re-issued licence in the issuing Member State.
This adoption will allow interinstitutional negotiations to begin with the European Parliament (see EUROPE 13499/19).
Read the general approach: https://aeur.eu/f/en9
Passenger rights. The EU Council will adopt its positions on the revised regulation on the enforcement of passenger rights in the EU and on the regulation on passenger rights in multimodal travel (see EUROPE 13524/13). The aim of these texts is to strengthen national consumer protection bodies and make it easier for passengers to find real-time information on different modes of transport.
In its position on the first text, the Council removed the risk-based approach to monitoring compliance with passenger rights and cooperation between the Member States and the Commission. It has also redefined certain terms: ‘recognised assistance dog’ and ‘reimbursement of the full cost of the ticket booked through an intermediary’.
For the second text, separate multimodal tickets have been excluded from the scope and the obligations of multimodal platform managers for passenger transport have been transferred to the managers of major terminals.
Read the general approaches: https://aeur.eu/f/end; https://aeur.eu/f/enf
The ministers will also hold a policy debate on air passenger rights. The legal framework governing air passenger rights is complex and difficult to interpret and apply. They will therefore discuss the need to simplify this legal framework to ensure uniform protection for air passengers.
Other items. In addition to a summary of current legislative files, the ministers will be briefed by the Commission on preventing and addressing transport poverty as part of the Social Climate Plans. The Commission’s study shows that transport unavailability is particularly high in rural areas.
For more information: https://aeur.eu/f/enh
Italy and the Czech Republic, supported by other Member States, will be debating policy for the automotive industry, which is currently experiencing major difficulties. This debate echoes the one that took place at the Competitiveness Council last week (see EUROPE 13534/3).
For more information: https://aeur.eu/f/eni
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will inform delegations of a joint non-paper signed by their ministers at a joint meeting in September in Palanga, Lithuania, which underlines the key importance of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).
For more information: https://aeur.eu/f/enj
Finally, at France’s request, the ministers will discuss aviation agreements with third countries (see EUROPE 13526/12). (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)