15-16 September Transport ministers informal

Date: 24/09/1998

EU TRANSPORT ministers, meeting informally in Feldkirch, Austria, agreed on the need to harmonise technical standards to ensure fair competition in the single market and guard against market distortions in all types of transport.

MINISTERS expressed support for Austria's argument that harmonising social standards should be a priority in future moves towards liberalisation of the transport sector. Austria's Caspar Einem, who chaired the meeting, presented a paper arguing for a shift in the Union's transport policy to give greater priority to protecting jobs and working conditions. He said further market-opening measures should be accompanied by legally binding social regulations, such as those governing working hours.

“MOST of us agree that much work in the EU is required to achieve this goal,” warned Einem after the meeting. “I fear that we will not be successful in the necessary steps toward market opening, not to mention achieving a common position among member states, if we do not adapt technical and social standards at a high level.”

IN DISCUSSIONS on specific types of transport, a majority of ministers acknowledged the need to liberalise the rail sector, arguing that competition would make Europe's railways more efficient. Ministers suggested, for instance, that a rail regulator could supervise competition during a transition period and emphasised the urgent need to liberalise the market as the sector continues to lose market share and shed jobs.

ELIMINATING environmental damage from lorries was also high on the agenda. Ministers backed a European Commission call for measures to combat air pollution caused by road traffic, an issue which is likely to be debated at length when transport ministers come together again for a formal meeting in Luxembourg next Thursday (1 October). Einem said afterwards that the discussion had underlined that transport ministers would “stand up for a civil and environmentally-just European transport policy”. There was also support for the Commission's call for new guidelines on Eurovignettes, truck safety and technical conditions to combat heavy traffic flows.

PROGRESS on transport issues could in no way be endangered through the accession of central and eastern European countries to the EU, said Einem. Ministers agreed on the urgent need for additional measures to cope with the expected increases in road haulage once more countries join the Union.