§ Sir Anthony DurantTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the outcome of the meeting of the European Transport Council on 26 and 27 March.
§ Mr. MacGregorThe meeting of the Council of Transport Ministers was held in Brussels on 26 and 27 March. My noble Friend Lord Brabazon of Tara represented the United Kingdom on both days.
Agreement was reached on the aviation agreement with Norway and Sweden, based on article 84(2) of the treaty, 4W extending the Community acquis to Norway and Sweden. The Council noted the progress made on the third package of aviation liberalisation measures, and discussed briefly a report from the Commission on aviation state aids. Lord Brabazon stressed the importance we attached to firm Commission action on aviation state aids.
Although no agreement was reached on proposals for a definitive regime for road haulage cabotage, some progress was made towards agreement on road passenger cabotage, with proposals for a phased liberalisation of non-regular services and liberalisation of some limited cross border regular services. It was agreed that the Commission should have further discussions with Switzerland and Austria on the implementation of the transit agreements.
Good progress was made towards reaching a final agreement on maritime cabotage, but a number of important elements of the package are still to be resolved.