Transport Council: 1 October (Hansard, 21 October 1998)

§ Lord Whitty

The Transport Council met in Luxembourg on 1 October. My right honourable friend Dr. John Reid represented the United Kingdom.

The Council agreed common positions on two legislative proposals, and held useful discussions on some other important areas of transport policy.

In land transport, the Council reached a common position on a directive which will facilitate the free movement of transportable pressure equipment within the Community. The text which was agreed met a UK concern that the industry itself should be able to continue to carry out inspections of this type of equipment, under the necessary supervision.

154WA

The Commission reported on the recent Swiss referendum on lorry charges. The referendum approved a law allowing the Swiss Government to impose Alpine transit charges, which would be higher than those foreseen by the draft EC/Switzerland transport agreement. The Commission now hoped that agreement could be reached on the EC/Switzerland agreement at the next Transport Council.

There was also discussion of the directive on charging of heavy goods vehicles for the use of certain infrastructures (the Eurovignette).

The Council debated the directive amending Community rules on the promotion of combined transport. This would require reduced taxes for lorries engaged in combined transport and would permit lorries above current Community weight limits to carry out such operations. There was discussion of the need for careful definition of combined transport, if the proposal was to lead to a real incentive to reduce road mileage. The proposal will continue to be examined with a view to reaching agreement at the next Transport Council.

The Commission reported that, following the break-down of negotiations between employers and employees on working time in road transport, it would propose the extension of the working time directive to non-mobile workers in road transport, and a separate measure for mobile workers. The latter would cover own-account operators and self-employed drivers.

The Commission presented its new proposals on rail access and charging rules. Member states generally welcomed the proposals, which aim to contribute to the revitalisation of the Community's railways by clarifying the regulatory framework for the provision of rail services. The Presidency concluded that the Council would look again at these proposals at its next meeting.

In air transport, the Council reached a common position on a regulation to restrict the use of older aircraft which have been modified ("hush-kitted") to meet the latest noise regulations, but which produce more noise than newer aircraft. The United Kingdom expressed its disappointment at the suspension of Gibraltar from the scope of this regulation, especially as Gibraltar is covered by existing EU legislation on aircraft noise. The UK reluctantly agreed to suspension on this occasion, to allow progress on this measure, which is important to all member states.

The Council noted progress on a Commission proposal to amend the rules on compensation for passengers denied boarding on overbooked flights. The UK made it clear that it supports this proposal and that it would oppose the inclusion of clauses suspending application to Gibraltar. The Presidency said that it would attempt to secure agreement on the regulation at the next Transport Council and urged rapid progress.

Following further discussion of civil aviation relations between the EC and the US, the Presidency said that the proposal to give the Commission a mandate to negotiate market access would continue to be examined, in the hope of reaching a conclusion at the next Council.

155WA

The Italian Minister requested a discussion of the Commission's Decision that the decree requiring movement of airlines' operations to the new Milan Malpensa airport was discriminatory and illegal. Ministers agreed that the matter should be resolved bilaterally between the Commission and Italy.