The European Transport Ministers will be meeting in the EU Council in Luxembourg on Thursday 5 June. They will address the rights of air passengers, the package relating to the revision of vehicle inspections and the Regulation revising the weight and dimensions of trucks.
Air passenger rights. The Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU hopes to reach a political agreement on this dossier, which has been on the negotiating table since 2013. On Wednesday 28 May, the Member States’ representatives to the European Union (Coreper) failed to reach an agreement on the right to compensation (see EUROPE 13650/5). At their next meeting, on Wednesday 4 June, they will try again to reach an agreement before the EU Council meeting scheduled for the following day.
According to a European diplomatic source, the Presidency hopes that the Member States will understand the impetus given by the revision of travellers’ rights, which is currently on the table. “For the Presidency, this is the right time to move this project forward and begin negotiations with the European Parliament”, the source said, adding that “the status quo is not sustainable”.
Vehicle inspection. The Ministers will discuss the proposal to update the EU’s road safety rules for the first time. Presented in April by the Commission, this revision concerns three European Directives applicable to vehicle inspections, vehicle registration and roadside inspections of commercial vehicles (see EUROPE 13627/8).
Weight and dimensions. Poland will present a progress report on the revision of the Directive on the weights and dimensions of vehicles circulating in the EU, which is currently blocked in the EU Council. This review, which was presented in July 2023 as part of the greening freight package, is eagerly awaited by the sector (see EUROPE 13632/23).
Other business. The EU Council is also expected to receive information from the European Commission on air traffic congestion, and an information item from Lithuania, Estonia and Finland on a call for joint actions in response to the threats of jamming and spoofing of satellite navigation systems.
An informal ministerial lunch will be held on the subject of the impact of climate policy on transport. (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)