11 March Transport Council

Date: 14/03/1996

TRANSPORT Commissioner Neil Kinnock's hopes of an 'open skies' agreement between the EU and US continue to be frustrated, as ministers remained divided over the usefulness of negotiating as a bloc. The Commission is still seeking a mandate to forge a deal covering liberalised traffic across the Atlantic and common rules on investment, competition and airline ownership. But member states remain unwilling to give up existing bilateral deals. Kinnock hinted he might be willing to meet sceptical countries halfway, saying a deal could be negotiated gradually. He pledged a proposal for the June Council setting out the basis on which the Commission would approach the US to gauge their interest in talks.

MINISTERS discussed the idea of creating an EU 'black list' of countries to be barred from European airspace for operating substandard aircraft. Responding to an initiative from German Minister Matthias Wissmann, the Council debated a twin-track approach involving the list and an EU safety certificate for airlines. A Commission spokeswoman said officials would discuss the idea further.

KINNOCK was disappointed at finance ministers' cool reception to Commission President Jacques Santer's idea of diverting 1.7 billion ecu of unspent funds from the EU budget to help finance the Trans-European Networks. The Commission is preparing a proposal to put the money - mainly from the agricultural budget - into the networks as part of Santer's employment 'confidence pact'.

MINISTERS “took positive note” of recent indications from Switzerland that it might be prepared to be more flexible on its law barring lorries of over 28 tonnes from transiting the country. The EU is pushing for an end to the ban. But ministers remained concerned at Bern's general approach to the talks.

POLITICAL agreement was reached by ministers on a common position on a proposal to harmonise member states' regulations on roadworthiness tests for cars and trailers. The deal, which will be approved as an A-point at a future Council, requires speed-limiting devices and tachographs to be added to the list of points to be tested.

COMMON positions were also reached on three proposals concerning the EU's inland waterways, although the UK voted against the drafts. These cover chartering and pricing systems, structural improvements in the sector and the granting of aid for transport by road, rail and inland waterways. Ministers decided that aid would only be granted in 1996, with the EU making 20 million ecu available to allow a 15&percent; cut in capacity.

BROAD agreement was reached on a proposal concerning statistics on the amount of freight, mail and passengers carried by air.

OVER lunch, ministers discussed tactics for the approaching conciliation talks with the European Parliament on guidelines for Trans-European Networks. Council president Giovanni Caravale is due to meet MEPs in Rome to discuss differences over the issue.

UNDER “any other business”, the Commission presented recent papers on the external costs of transport, the “Citizen's Network” and Air Traffic Management.