Brussels, 28/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - Other than the adoption of conclusions by the Council on external policy in the field of aviation and a political agreement on a Community air traffic controllers' licence (EUROPE 8978), the Transport Council of 27 June provided the forum to take stock of a number of dossiers.
On the obligatory introduction, on 5 August, of a digital tachograph in newly-registered utility vehicles, buses and coaches, the Commissioner for Transport, Jacques Barrot, proposed to "leave a small amount of leeway in implementation, until the end of the year at the latest", further to a number of reported delays, for example in the time needed to format cards. "The decision for the regulation to enter into force on 5 August 2005 was taken unanimously by the Council, and so I cannot renege on this (...). this is not a formal postponement, but a tolerance, which will be as short as necessary (...), which I have put in place only for people acting in good faith", said Mr Barrot. 5 August 2005 remains the official date on which any lorry fitted with a digital tachograph must be recognised to be in line with European legislation, but up until 1 January 2006, no official record will be made of any vehicle which is not fitted out with a digital tachograph, or any infringement proceedings launched against any Member State with delays in the implementation of this legislation for technical reasons. "We are not going to be handing out penalties left, right and centre in August (...), but once this period is over, we will not hesitate to launch infringement proceedings", said Mr Barrot, who added that his proposal for this "kind of phasing in of the digital tachograph" had gone down well with the Member States, and that some of them will be ready on 5 August. The Netherlands said that the date of 1 January 2006 was realistic, particularly as it corresponds to the end of the Parliament/Council conciliation over rest and driving times.
During the exchange of views on the European programme on road safety, speed limits, drink-driving and seat belts were the main priorities cited by the delegations. The Member States agreed to move forward towards a cross-border application of criminal and administrative proceedings, and intend to call on the Commission to take measures on regulating vehicles with a view to making certain new technology is obligatory ("smart cars"). "The generalised introduction of speed limiters or the obligatory use of sidelights during the day were avenues mentioned by many delegations, and so the mid-term stock-take is eagerly anticipated", said Council President Lucien Lux. Another suggestion was the creation of a European observatory for road safety. The Member States also encouraged the exchange of best practice, suggesting, for example, setting up a European register of people who have committed motoring offences, whilst stressing the importance of applying the principle of subsidiarity in the field of road safety and stressing the role of education. Germany renewed its proposal to bring in a "zero alcohol limit" for young drivers, but it failed to rally much support from the other delegations. The Luxembourg Presidency voiced its regret at having failed to obtain agreement on the driving licence, "a dossier which would certainly have had positive repercussions symbolically for European citizenship, but which would also have quickly turned into a foundation stone for the building of good road safety, for which we have all voiced our support". The stalemate on the obligation to change existing licences came mainly from Germany, which is faced with a sensitive period of elections this autumn. Nonetheless, the Luxembourg Presidency said, according to a source close to the Council, that the compromise text it reached with the EP would probably be adopted as it stands under the UK Presidency, once the German elections planned for 18 September are over.
Commissioner Barrot also referred to progress in relations with the United States on aviation issues. He said that since the April Council, he had been in "regular contact" with Norman Mineta, the American Secretary of State for Transport, and he spoke of progress made during technical meetings on safety measures, a joint definition of State aid and fair competition rules. On this last point, DG Competition will work more closely with the American authorities in charge of transport. The Commission spoke out in favour of a step-by-step approach, due to differences of opinion between the Member States as to the content of the agreement, depending on whether they have already entered into a bilateral agreement with the United States. It is therefore hopes to hold a further meeting with the American authorities in the autumn, to see "how things are shaping up", and to look into an initial partial agreement on bringing the game rules closer together, by the end of the year. The Commission will consolidate what the United States has already acquired in its bilateral agreements, and plans to offer new opportunities, in the hope that "in the meantime, the United States will change their rules on ownership, of their own volition".
Cmmissioner Barrot, who is already working in close cooperation with British Minister Darling, who is to take on the presidency of the Transport Council this autumn, “felt the Council was very determined to support our efforts (…). One cannot allow the United States to believe that negotiations will fail again”.
Furthermore, the Commission encouraged the Council to reach an agreement by the end of the year on the rights and obligations of international rail passengers. The Council took a stance on this point in favour of contractual rather than normative solutions.
Finally, the Council adopted, in “points A”, two proposals for directives on harmonised river information services on Community inland waterways and on the recognition of seafarer patents. Parliament and Council also reached two agreements that should be adopted during the Transport Council in October, on the directive relating to pollution caused by ships and the possibility of imposing penal sanctions on those responsible, and on port security.