Brussels, 21/09/2004 (Agence Europe) - The future Transport Commissioner, Jacques Barrot, revealed his priorities for transport policy in responses to a questionnaire from the European Parliament Committee on Transport before his parliamentary hearing to be held on 29 September this year. Sustainable development, the development of trans-European transport networks (TEN-T), EU foreign policy, and the security and safety and rights of passengers: - these are the five major themes to which Mr Barrot's work will be geared over the next five years.
During his tenure, one of Mr Barrot's priorities will be the adoption of a proposal amending the "Eurovignette" directive on tariffs for heavy vehicles using TEN-T infrastructure. In addition to this proposal, Mr Barrot hopes to "resume reflection on internalising certain external costs" linked to accidents, pollution and congestion. Re-balancing between the different modes of transport is also on the agenda of the future Commissioner who will mainly tackle the task of adopting the third rail package and implementing the second. Such re-balancing could also require "new measures" in the maritime and inland navigation fields to improve the competitiveness of European maritime industry and maritime safety, mainly by strengthening measures against flags of convenience. In order to reduce pollution and congestion in towns, Mr Barrot finally places his sights on technological innovation and especially the Galileo programme and the Sesame project for modernising air traffic management.
With a view to developing safety in the transport sector, Mr Barrot hopes to "gradually consolidate the competences of Community agencies, complete Community legislation where necessary and ensure its equal application by all Member States". The future Commissioner will focus on road safety and plans to draw up a mid-term report on measures taken to see whether the EU's goal of reducing the number of people killed on EU roads by half by the year 2010 has been reached. Mr Barrot also considers it necessary to continue strengthening infrastructure and equipment security and is contemplating proposing, with DG Industry, new directives on the safety of road infrastructure, reflecting strips and "blind angle" rear-view mirrors for heavy vehicles as well as the daytime use of headlights.
"European transport policy must become a budgetary priority of the Union, more than in the past", especially for achieving trans-European transport networks (TEN-T), Mr Barrot said. In addition to the EUR 20 billion proposed by the Commission in the context of the next financial perspectives, which he considers "indispensable" for achieving TEN-T, the future Commissioner considers that the new provisions should be imagined to promote public-private partnerships. It will also be necessary to strengthen coordination of the various Community funding schemes devoted to trans-European networks, which "calls, where necessary, for reflection on the creation of an Agency". The EU must also develop connections with its new neighbours like Russia, Ukraine, the Balkans and the Mediterranean countries. In this context, Mr Barrot considers that a High Level Group should be created to identify priority projects allowing for the creation of a pan-European infrastructure network.
Developing EU external policy in the field of transport is essential, Mr Barrot believes. He would like the EU to become a member of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICA). The EU must also conclude air agreements with third countries and, above all, with the United States Wishing to resume negotiations, which have been put on hold pending presidential elections in November, Mr Barrot will be in Washington to meet US negotiators after the elections (see EUROPE of 11 September, p.11).
Community measures to strengthen passengers' rights in the air sector should be made more substantial, for example by improving the rights of persons with reduced mobility or allowing passengers to know what company they are really travelling with, Mr Barrot believes. The future Commissioner also hopes to develop these rules in other sectors and especially for transport by coach.
Responding to the questionnaire, Mr Barrot finally insisted on the importance of having a "tax policy that is consistent with transport policy". Pending a global agreement on the taxation of kerosene, the future Commissioner "hopes to evaluate the possibilities of proposing such taxation on intra-Community flights which are not exposed to international competition".