Brussels, 13/09/2001 (Agence Europe) - Thirty European Transport and Environment Ministers will be meeting as planned on Saturday and Sunday in Louvain, for an Informal Council devoted to sustainable development in the transport sector. According to the programme proposed by the Belgian Transport Minister, Isabelle Durant, and the Environment Minister, Magda Alvoet, debates will essentially focus on three issues: 1) the environmental targets to be reached by the year 2010; 2) the economic and financial instruments to be implemented; and 3) the institutional means that would make it possible to assure better integration of environment and transport policies. The Belgian Presidency had forwarded to ministers this summer an analysis document stating what was at stake (see EUROPE of 27 and 28 August, p;5). After being welcomed on Saturday morning by a "hedge of honour" formed of 3,000 cyclists, the ministers will open an exhibition entitled "Greening Transport" on the "green" solutions developed by logistics companies, non-governmental organisations, passenger transport companies and automobile manufacturers.
The meeting will provide an opportunity to sound out ministers on the White Paper on European transport policy in the run up to 2010, adopted on Wednesday by the Commission (see EUROPE of 12/09, p.8 and the Commission's action programme published on Friday in our EUROPE/Document supplement). Their reaction is mainly awaited concerning the creation of a Community framework for the pricing of infrastructure access by invoicing users at real cost, and above all regarding the harmonisation of taxes on professional fuel, proposed by the Commission. "It is not a question of increasing taxes, but of taking a very close look at the whole system", said Commissioner Loyola de Palacio during a press conference on Thursday. Eurovignette, which is paid annually, does not effectively reflectreal costs per trip, and the tax difference on fuel between Member States creates competition distortion, insisted Ms Palacio. She said that together with the EP Member States and the Finance Ministers, they would see what could be done. When asked about the need to develop airport infrastructure that was mentioned in the White Paper, the Commissioner said that it was not possible to avoid building new runways (in order to meet demands and the needs of economic developmen)t. That did not mean, however, stressed Ms de Palacio, that the exponential growth of the sector should not be controlled (it is expected to double in the next decade) and that was why high-quality alternatives had to be developed.