Brussels, 17/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - Last Wednesday, the European Parliament adopted by a large majority (406 to 95 and 33 abstentions) the report by Spanish Socialist Juan Izquierdo Collado on the White Paper presented by the European Commission in September 2001 on European transport policy with a view to 2010 (see EUROPE of 12 September 2001).
The Parliament considers the priorities of a European transport policy must be to fight against pollution and bottlenecks, and in favour of sustainable development, economic and social cohesion (bearing outlying, insular and mountainous regions in mind) and territorial balance, including with candidate countries. To achieve these priorities, it is necessary to promote: - intermodality between the various transport methods. While welcoming the Commission's initiatives in this respect the EP considers as "minimal" the objective to stabilise the share of different transport means for 2010 at the 1998 level; - pricing of transport infrastructures: this is a proposal that the Parliament is impatient to receive, hoping that priority will be given to users; - and the participation of professional organisations (workers, employers, users) in decision-making in this connection. Furthermore, additional investment is essential and the Parliament calls for the idea of a European loan for accelerating completion of trans-European transport networks (TEN) to be reactivated. It also proposes the creation of a European Transport Fund. The Commission is to draft a communication on the situation of the applicant countries in the transport sector and elaborate proposals should there be problems relating to sustainability or integration of acquis communautaire before 2004.
The plenary made the following recommendations for each sector:
Overland transport. The Parliament recognises the strategic role of the road network, while seeking to promote freight transport via other means, and supports promotion of collective transport and the improvement of mobility for vulnerable groups (pedestrians, the elderly and old, disabled persons and cyclists). It mainly calls on the Commission to: (1) develop systems for exchanging information and best practice between Member States in order to combat social dumping in overland transport; (2) report on best practices within the EU with regards urban transport; (3) and promote research and development of new technologies aimed at making less polluting electric vehicles more cost-effective and establishing an ambitious programme for promoting zero emission vehicles.
Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN): The Parliament calls for South-North and East-West European corridors to be included in the priority projects, during the new review of the TEN guidelines. Furthermore, it proposes the establishment of high speed rail lines for goods transport, possibly including the European network of abandoned lines.
Maritime transport and internal waterway navigation: The Parliament supports the Commission's initiatives on the responsibility of all persons who have contributed to causing maritime pollution and supports revising the rules of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) on this subject. It calls on the Commission to propose guidelines on controlling subsidies and competition in ports, Community initiatives for relaunching short and medium-haul cabotage, and incentives to ships to use low-sulphur content fuels. The Parliament also hopes inland navigation will be modernised and enhanced bearing Community environmental legislation in mind, and calls for the introduction of a single Community identification number for inland navigation vessels.
Air transport: The Parliament welcomes progress made on the legislative package concerning European Single Sky and proposes that the European Air Safety Authority should also be competent with regards navigability. It invites the Council to adopt a constructive approach on the subject of the negotiation mandate that the Commission is calling for in order to conclude a joint transatlantic air agreement with the United States. Furthermore, it trusts that the Commission will make concrete proposals for reducing the congestion near airports and delays on the ground and that it will insist within the IMO in favour of introducing a global tax on kerosene. Otherwise (PES amendment), an environmental tax on kerosene would have to be applied in the EU.
Security: Pending the Commission's 3rd action programme for road safety, the Parliament adopted PES amendments calling for widest possible harmonisation within the EU on the subject of signalling, speed, alcohol consumption, and the strengthening of user safety systems (helmets and safety belts). Also, it advocates studies on the causes of accidents and improved technical controls and proposes the creation of an Agency for road safety.