Transport black spots to take pole position

Date: 30/01/1997

By Michael Mann

THE Dutch presidency will tackle three of the most contentious issues currently facing the transport sector when ministers meet informally this weekend.

Rather than the more philosophical questions which are so often the stuff of informal meetings, Dutch Minister Annemarie Jorritsma-Lebbink will focus on proposed improvements in European air traffic management, the potential for harmonised road-charging systems and ways of polishing off an agreement in long-running transport negotiations with the Swiss.

Jorritsma's choice of subject matter makes it clear that the Netherlands is determined to make progress on some of the most controversial transport issues during its EU presidency.

“It is important to realise that it is not our aim to draw conclusions. The meeting will give us the opportunity for a free exchange of views, and it is better to do this in an informal environment,” said a Dutch official.

Faced with increasing chaos in Europe's skies, civil aviation organisations are seeking to revamp the Eurocontrol Con-vention in an attempt to draw together over 30 different air traffic systems.

Dutch officials are now talking optimistically about the new convention being ready for signature within six months.

But doubts remain over how much control the EU should have over whatever emerges from the review process. While the Union is responsible for safety and security issues, the harmonisation of traffic measures extends well beyond the EU's skies. Govern-ments are also keen to stress the importance of maintaining control over movements of military aircraft in their airspace.

Jorritsma has also elected to raise another favourite Commission theme: moves towards so-called 'interoperability' of road transport systems.

It is widely accepted that efficient transport infrastructure represents the clearest physical manifestation of the single market, and that efficiency can only be guaranteed if charging systems and road construction are harmonised as much as possible.

“We have learnt a clear lesson from the railway industry, which has suffered from 150 years of hold-ups at borders thanks to distinct national electrical systems, safety measures and gauges. We have the opportunity to avoid such problems in the road sector,” said an official.

With efforts now being made to build external costs such as environmental damage into haulage pricing through the Eurovignette, the Netherlands wants to concentrate minds on making charging systems compatible.

Linked to this are the ongoing negotiations with the Swiss to resolve trans-Alpine traffic problems, where the Dutch hope the informal atmosphere of Amsterdam will allow a frank exchange of opinions on Transport Commissioner Neil Kinnock's proposal to break the impasse.

In December, ministers broadly backed a plan allowing the Swiss to use truck charges to raise money for a rail tunnel to carry increased commercial traffic through their country.

Kinnock has suggested the EU demand free access for its 40-tonne trucks to Swiss roads from 2005, in return for a charge-per-kilometre which would also apply to French and Austrian Alpine routes to Italy.

The EU would raise its Eurovignette charges in line with inflation and weight them in favour of cleaner, less-damaging trucks. But last week's negotiations threw up renewed obstacles, with Kinnock claiming Swiss demands would still divert an unacceptably high number of trucks through Austria and France.