Brussels, 08/06/2006 (Agence Europe) - The Austrian EU Presidency will be seeking to reach a political agreement on the revised proposal for a regulation on public passenger transport by road and rail, during the Transport Council to be held in Luxembourg on 9 June under the presidency of Austrian Minister Hubert Gorbach. The objective is not unrealistic but the discussions, which will take place during a public debate, will be very difficult due to the sensitive nature of the matter under discussion and also because of the many issues that must be addressed. Furthermore, the air agreement creating a common European airspace between the European Union, South East Europe, Iceland and Norway will be officially signed during this Council (see EUROPE 9186 and 9142).
Presented in September 2005, the revised proposal for a regulation on public service obligations for passenger transport services by rail and by road aims to open the sector up more to competition while safeguarding services of general interest. It proposes two methods to achieve this: - public service contracts and calls for tenders (see EUROPE 9162 and 8995). Before reaching a political agreement on the issue, however, several questions have still to be resolved during the discussions that will be based on a “package” of five points presented by the Austrian Presidency to seek to satisfy not only the “protectionist” States but also the States advocating greater liberalisation. The package plans to extend the possibility, for relevant authorities, to grant direct public service contracts (without calls for tenders) for all “heavy” rail services, including suburban rail travel, that is, trains within towns (such as the RER). It also provides for an increase in the thresholds for direct awards and for this possibility to be extended to small and medium-sized companies (SME); as well as: - increased transparency when public service contracts are directly awarded; - a shorter maximum contract length in the case of direct award (the Commission's proposal had set this at 15 years), and reciprocity.
Pending the first reading at the European Parliament, the Council will also seek to set out general guidelines for the proposal for a directive amending Directive 2002/59/EC on establishing a Community system for information and monitoring of maritime transport. The proposal is part of the third maritime package (ERIKA III) presented in November 2005 by the Commission which, after the two earlier legislative packages (ERIKA I and II), aims to strengthen security of maritime transport in Europe by reducing the risks of accident and pollution (see EUROPE 9074). The proposal above all provides for the gradual introduction of an automatic identification system (AIS) in all fishing vessels of over fifteen metres in length, and the setting in place of authorities responsible for designating places of refuge for ships in distress. Discussions on this issue should not pose a problem and the Council should restrict itself to deciding which vessels (according to length) and when fishing boats should be fitted with the AIS, also covering the procedure relating to acceptance of ships in distress in places of refuge.
The Council will attempt to reach a general approach on a proposal for a regulation on the establishment of a joint undertaking to develop the new generation European air traffic management system (SESAR = Single European Sky Air Traffic Management and Research) - see EUROPE 9071.
The European Commission will, moreover, present its report on the state of progress of the European radionavigation system by satellite, Galileo, and its (ambitious) timetable for the coming stages of development (see EUROPE 9205). Also, during lunch, ministers will hold a first discussion on the criteria for attributing the seat of the Galileo Surveillance Authority which, for now, is located in Brussels. France suggests Strasbourg. Other countries including the United Kingdom and the Netherlands would also be interested.
The Commission will also brief the Council on developments of the air agreement between the EU and the United States (signature of which has been suspended pending changes in the implementation of US legislation on control and ownership of US airlines, in principle foreseen for August: see EUROPE 9190), as well as on the first negotiations with the Russians in April this year with a view to putting an end to the taxes imposed on flights over Siberia (see EUROPE 9176).
Finally, the Council must also adopt conclusions on road safety and on inland waterway navigation.