Brussels, 25/03/2003 (Agence Europe) - Two political agreements are expected at the Transport Council that begins Thursday afternoon and continues into Friday. The one on the railway package and the other on the amended directive proposal to strengthen safety rules for aircraft from third countries flying to Community airports. In the expectation of the first reading by the European Parliament, the Council is expected to obtain a general guideline on the draft regulation on speeding up the elimination of single hull tankers. On the other hand, the granting of a mandate to the European Commission for negotiating with the USA in the airspace domain is expected to be postponed till June. During the dinner on Friday, Ministers will discuss possible measures to take for transport in the worsening crisis in Iraq (European Commission to discuss and should adopt a communication on this subject on Wednesday: see p 7).
Maritime transport: the Council could adopt a "general guideline" on the draft regulation on the speeding up of the elimination of single hull tankers, adopted on 20 December (see EUROPE 21 December p 10). Several points are still being discussed: 1) the timetable for getting rid of 2 and 3 category tankers. The presidency presented a compromise so that category 2 and 3 tankers are treated in the same way and therefore eliminated in 2010 (instead of 2015 for category 3); 2 field of application. Although the majority of delegations supported the Commission's proposals being applied to all boats, whatever the flag they fly (those entering European ports and those flying a flag of a Member State outside of Community waters), some delegations also sought an overall agreement at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO); 3) certain delegations would be against a directive provisions that aimed to ban the transporting of heavy fuel in small single hull tankers (being able to transport up to 600-5000 tons of oil). The presidency proposed this ban to apply from 2010; 4) certain delegations would like specific provisions on sailing in frozen seas to be included in the proposal. EUROPE is able to indicate that the European Council's conclusions of 21 March for demanding cooperation with neighbouring countries and that Finland was pleased with the outcome (see EUROPE 23 March p 2 and 18). The Commission will present its draft directive to impose prison sentences in cases of serious sea pollution (see EUROPE 6 March p 10) as well as a communication and a draft regulation, currently in interservice consultation, that aims to transpose safety measures adopted by the IMO in December into Community law 'see other article). This point will be subject to public scrutiny. The Council is also expected to obtain a general approach on the draft directive on the level of minimum training for seamen (see EUROPE 18 January p 8).
Land transport: a political agreement is expected on the second railway package, which includes four proposals (one draft directive on developing the Community railways, a draft directive on railway safety, a draft regulation on setting up a European Railway Agency and a draft directive on the interoperability of the European railway system. Several delegations (Germany, Spain, Netherlands and the United Kingdom want to have an overall package adopted. However, France, Belgium and Luxembourg believe that it is too early to adopt the second package. Worried about the opening up to competition of their railway networks, these delegations want to first of all obtain the first package that entered into force on 15 March. France and Belgium also share reservations about the notification procedure demanded when a country wants to adopt safety measures that are higher than those proposed. The Proposals could be submitted to a vote (qualified majority). The Council is also expected to adopt a common position on the draft regulation on the Ecopoint system, thus confirming its position of last December (see EUROPE 3 January), without taking into account the amendments adopted during the European Parliament's first reading (see EUROPE 13 January p 13). The Commission will present its draft directive on the minimum safety conditions for tunnels (see EUROPE 17 January p 9).
Air transport: a political agreement is expected on the modified draft directive aiming to strengthen security rules for third-country aircraft in Community airports (see EUROPE of 4 September, p.15). Furthermore, several points will come under an orientation debate: particularly the Commission's communicaton on Community/third country relations in the field of civil aviation, the draft regulation on the negotiation and implementation of airline service agreements between Member States and third countries, the draft regulation on unfair tariff practices of third countries. However, the Council is unlikely to grant the Commission a mandate to negotiate aviation agreements with the United States. This question will be postponed until June.
Lastly, the Council will sum up the state of play of the Galileo navigation and satellite positioning project. Whilst experts are stressing the urgency of resolving the problem at the European Space Agency (ESA), the extraordinary Council, called this Wednesday in order to reach agreement, was cancelled at the last minute. The ESA is hoping that the meeting will be able to take place "in the next few days", but there is no certainty of this.