6 October: Transport Council

Date: 14/10/1999

TRANSPORT ministers committed themselves to liberalise Europe's railways, a move which was hailed as a major breakthrough by the Finnish presidency. After initial resistance, the French signed up to a series of market-opening measures, including a pledge to open access to international freight services and to harmonise charges for rail cargo services. They also called on EU member states to define a Trans-European Rail Freight Network, which would include cargo lines as well as access to major terminals and ports. The issue will be discussed again at the next meeting of transport ministers in December.

MINISTERS approved a hard-hitting report drawn up by the Finnish presidency which warns that current trends in road and air traffic growth are unsustainable and threaten to hamper progress in meeting the EU's climate change goals. For the first time, ministers called for sector-specific targets to reduce the environmental impact of all forms of transport. They asked the European Commission to draw up proposals for meeting these goals by 2002.

ARGUMENTS over whether self-employed drivers should be included within the scope of proposed EU legislation on working time for transport workers were left unresolved. Both Finland and the Commission promised to seek a balanced compromise, and the issue will be discussed again in December.

MINISTERS held a debate on proposed EU legislation laying down harmonised rules for night-time and weekend bans on heavy trucks involved in international transport. Eight member states (Austria, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal and Greece) currently impose such restrictions to ease congestion on roads during weekends and holidays. Although ministers agreed on the need to harmonise the scope of the restrictions, they decided further discussion was needed on whether to allow traffic on certain main roads or at least widen the 'time window' during which heavy-goods vehicles could use those roads.

THE Finnish presidency urged the Commission to “continue and intensify” talks with the US on a new set of international aviation noise standards to avert a transatlantic trade row over the EU's planned ban on engines fitted with hush kits, and set a deadline of the end of this month for the two sides to reach a “common understanding”.

FRANCE, supported by Austria and Italy, invited the Commission to present proposals for measures aimed at solving transport problems in the Alps. These include improving tunnel safety, developing intermodal transport, financing rail infrastructure and regulating heavy truck traffic in the Alps so as to ensure proper environmental protection.

MINISTERS called on member states to “make every effort” to conclude negotiations on the Union's accession to Eurocontrol, the European organisation for the safety of air navigation which has 28 member countries.

AUSTRIA voiced its concern regarding the resumption of river traffic on the Danube, which has been disrupted as a result of the conflict in the Balkans.