Agenda Transportraad: Galileo, veiligheid van zeeschepen, toegang tot havendiensten, wederzijdse erkenning diploma's voor zeekapiteins, treinpersoneel en vluchtleiders (en)
Explanatory memo of the main issues on the agenda
- (1) Galileo (point foreseen for Friday morning)
The Council will discuss the Commission's Communication on Galileo addressed to the Council and the European Parliament on 6 October 2004 (IP/04/1192). The Council will debate the conclusions it draws from this Communication.
Vice President Jacques Barrot hopes for a firm Council commitment for the deployment (2006-2007) and commercial operating phase (2008 onwards) of Galileo.
The Commission has already proposed 1 bn Euro for the financial perspectives 2007-2013. The private sector has expressed tremendous interest in Galileo, with the joint undertaking for Galileo currently examining the two bids on the table. While the final decision on the amount of EU money involved will be taken in the debate on the financial perspectives, the transport Council should express its commitment to the financing of the deployment and operating phases.
In this respect, the conditions previously put on the table by the Council have been fulfilled. These included the compatibility of the European and American GPS system (agreement signed with USA on 26 June 2004); the public-private partnership with a clear private sector willingness to offer financing to the coming phases of the project; quality, public service and security requirements.
Galileo will operate in a market with significant potential. It is expected to create an additional 150,000 highly qualified jobs in the EU.
I. Issues related to maritime transport (Thursday afternoon 9.12)
- (2) Application of International Safety Management code (ISM) (IP/03/1751)
The ISM code is part of the International SOLAS convention. Following the tragedy of the Estonia, the Commission proposed to integrate the code into EU law in order to ensure its effective application.
The proposed regulation will enhance safety management and pollution prevention of all ships that fly the flag of a Member State. The regulation further applies enhanced safety measures to ships operating from EU ports irrespective of their flag.
The ISM code converts an international agreement of the International Maritime Organisation into binding EU law, which will allow the Commission to ensure more effective application in the EU. ISM is based on certification and contains detailed provisions on safety management. Emphasis is put on training of personnel. Member States must foresee effective sanctions for infringements of the regulation. The Commission would like to see a maximum transition period of two years for Member States to take all necessary arrangements to ensure compliance with the new standards.
The EP gave its opinion in first reading on 10 March 2004.
- (3) Recognition of certificates of seafarers delivered by Member States (IP/03/68)
The Council should give its views on the proposed directive in view of a first reading by the European Parliament. The goal of the Commission's proposal is to facilitate free movement of seafarers by simplifying and accelerating the recognition of national certificates in other Member States. The profession of seafarer needs a boost in the EU in view of its declining numbers. The directive closely follows international law.
The proposed system foresees guarantees of national certificates as well as additional measures to combat fraud in delivering certificates.
The proposal also clarifies existing international rules concerning basic knowledge of the English language for seafarers. They operate often in multinational crews, and need to be able to communicate amongst each other for safety reasons.
The EP has not rendered its opinion on this yet. The TRAN Committee voted its opinion on 23 November 2004.
- (4) Access to port services
Vice President Jacques Barrot will present the Commission's new proposal of 13 October 2004 (IP/04/1212). The new proposal builds on the remarks that were made during the discussion on the Commission's first proposal, which the European Parliament rejected in November 2003. Port services are the only element of the transport sector not yet included in the EU's regulatory framework. Their liberalisation is essential for the competitiveness of EU ports and the economy as a whole. The proposal contains provisions to avoid unfair competition. It sets the rules that govern access to the market of port services. It foresees the rights and obligations of service providers and the way of selecting them in a transparent manner. It stipulates rights and obligations of companies that engage in self-handling.
There is no EP opinion on this proposed directive yet.
- (5) Responsabilité civile et compensation en cas de pollution par les hydrocarbures ( IP/03/316)
Le Conseil discutera des conclusions sur la révision du système international de responsabilité et d'indemnisation des dommages dus à une pollution résultant du déversement d'hydrocarbures par des navires-citernes. A travers ses conclusions, le Conseil devrait réaffirmer sa détermination de vouloir améliorer le système international d'indemnisation. Une telle affirmation sera la base d'une position européenne forte lors de la réunion du groupe de travail FIPOL en février 2005. FIPOL est mondial (« Fonds international d'indemnisation pour les dommages dus à la pollution par les hydrocarbures » IP/03/1220), et contient des règles applicables à une centaine de pays. La position commune de l'UE nécessite l'unanimité.
Ce système international a l'avantage d'une indemnisation rapide des victimes d'une marée noire. L'objectif d'une révision du système international, telle qu'envisagée par la Commission visera à responsabiliser tous les opérateurs de la chaîne de transport maritime. Le Conseil européen de mars 2003 a d'ailleurs conclu exactement dans ces termes.
Dans ce même contexte la Commission fera part de son inquiétude sur l'état de ratification de FIPOL bis. Cet accord vise à relever le plafond des ressources internationales pour indemniser les dommages causés par les marées noires. Ce protocole n'est toujours pas opérationnel.
Seuls 5 Etats membres l'ont ratifié aujourd'hui (DK, F, IE, Fin, D). Deux pays non membres de l'Union européenne l'ont également ratifié. Le protocole a besoin d'une ratification en plus qui représente au moins 31 million de tonnes de pétrole importé par voie maritime, ou de deux ratifications de pays plus petits représentant ce même tonnage.
- (6) Inland waterway vessels
The Council is expected to reach a political agreement on a directive that foresees the technical requirements for inland waterway vessels. A European certificate exists already but is not recognised by the Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine (CCNR). The Rhine, however, contains three quarters of all river traffic in the EU.
An agreement now exists with the CCNR to ensure equivalence between the Rhine and the general EU certificate for vessels. This follows intensive negotiations between the Commission and the Rhine authority. The directive foresees a high level of safety, and a mechanism will allow for updating requirements in view of technological developments. Such updating will occur in cooperation with the CCNR.
1st reading by EP happened on 16 September 1999.
II. 3rd railway package
- (7) Certification du personnel de bord assurant la conduite de locomotives et de trains (IP/04/ 291)
Le Conseil discutera d'une des quatre initiatives législatives du troisième paquet ferroviaire. Ceci concerne la certification du personnel de bord assurant la conduite de locomotives et de trains. La Commission veut renforcer l'interopérabilité et la sécurité ferroviaire. Dans ce contexte il faut mieux définir les compétences et les responsabilités en matière de formation, d'évaluation et de reconnaissance des qualifications des conducteurs et du personnel de bord. La reconnaissance des certificats des conducteurs est une condition indispensable pour l'interopérabilité des réseaux ferroviaires. A l'instar du Parlement européen, la Commission préfère une discussion conjointe sur l'ensemble de quatre textes législatifs du paquet ferroviaire.
Avis du PE attendu sur ce sujet au printemps 2005.
III. Air transport
- Air Traffic Controller license (IP/04/893)
The Commission has proposed on 12 July 2004 an EU air traffic controller license. This is an important element for the establishment of a Single European Sky. The license will improve safety within the cross-border functional airspace blocks as foreseen by the Single Sky. The license will also promote free movement of controllers between Member States.
The Council will be invited to agree on a general approach to the issue. First reading of the EP has not been finalised yet.
- Règles techniques et procédures administratives dans le domaine de l'aviation civile IP/04/214
L'objectif du règlement proposé est de transposer en droit européen les dispositions non-contraignantes du « Joint Aviation Requirements ». La question des limitations des vols journalières a fait l'objet d'un amendement par le Parlement européen. Le texte actuel fixe l'heure à 4h 59.
- Negotiations on aviation agreements with EU neighbours
The Council is expected to adopt a decision to authorise the Commission to open negotiations on an aviation agreement with Morocco, a market with currently more than 6 million passengers a year. It is set to adopt a similar decision for negotiations with the five Western Balkan countries.
For clear fact sheets summarising EU legislation in the field of Transport (summaries of existing measures, as well as a follow-up of legislative proposals), see: