§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what matters were discussed; what proposals were put forward by the United Kingdom; what decisions were taken; and what were the voting records of each member state at the European Transport Council on 29 to 30 November in Brussels.
§ Mr. MacGregorMy noble Friend Lord Caithness and I represented the United Kingdom.
The Council reached political agreement on a directive giving the force of Community law to provisions on crew training standards agreed in the International Maritime Organisation—IMO—and requiring enhanced standards of communication on board passenger ships and tankers. The Council also agreed the main points of a draft directive establishing common rules and standards for classification societies. My noble Friend emphasised the importance for maritime safety of setting both clear rules and demanding standards for these societies, and secured safeguards which will assist high quality societies such as Lloyd's Register to provide services throughout the Community. In response to concerns expressed by a number of member states, including the United Kingdom, the Commission undertook to make a statement for the minutes, making it clear that neither directive would affect the active participation of individual member states in the IMO.
The Commission reported on its intentions for EUROS, the proposed Community shipping register. Significant difficulties remain. The Commission will be bringing forward new proposals in which proposed financial measures are likely to be restricted to employment, training and fleet modernisation.
The Council agreed draft conclusions supporting a Commission fact-finding mission to west and central Africa to examine the existing system of unilaterally imposed cargo restrictions. The Commission is expected to bring forward, for future consideration by the Council, a new draft mandate for negotiations with the Governments of the countries concerned.
The Commission undertook to present, by the middle of 1994, a report on key issues arising in the field of maritime competition policy. A draft Council resolution on this issue was therefore not pursued.
The Council approved conclusions on the Commission's communication on road safety which pay due regard to the principle of subsidiarity. It also adopted a decision setting up a Community road safety database on which the United Kingdom and one other member state abstained. My noble Friend made it clear that the United Kingdom was not opposed to the principle of a Community road safety database, but was abstaining on the decision since we did not believe that the proposed Community data base would provide added value to existing national systems and would duplicate work being done in other international forums such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
My noble Friend referred to the recent coach and minibus accidents in the United Kingdom and to national concern about the current lack of compulsion to fit seat belts in such vehicles. He explained that the United Kingdom was evaluating the lessons to be learned from the recent accidents to see what action might be taken. The Council agreed, in principle, that 1995 should be the year of young drivers.
23WThe Council reached political agreement on a directive establishing the general principles for the investigation of air accidents. It received an interim report on the work of the committee looking at the aviation industry, which considered that some airlines were facing problems, but that any reversal of the single market in aviation adopted during the United Kingdom presidency should be resisted. My noble Friend recommended that there should be no going back on this "third package", which should be quickly implemented in full. He made clear the United Kingdom's view that state aids distorted competition and cushioned their recipients from economic reality. The Council failed to agree a set of conclusions, but the presidency issued its own.
The Council reached political agreement on a draft directive which, from 1996, will harmonise the end-date of summer time at the end of October. This, in effect, will bring 10 member states into line with the current practice in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. The United Kingdom expressed support for the substance of the directive, but entered a minutes statement to make it clear that, on grounds of subsidiarity, we would have preferred a recommendation to a directive.
The Commission reported on its work on transport links with Greece. The Council will return to this matter at a subsequent meeting.
A proposed mandate for aviation and road haulage negotiations with Switzerland was discussed. This will now be prepared for formal adoption by the Council in April at the latest, and if possible before.
The Commission said that it would await the new Parliament before bringing forward a longer term legislative programme associated with the Transport White Paper, on which the Council agreed conclusions in June. The Commission also reported that proposals on the licensing of railway undertakings and access to railway infrastructure were nearing completion. The Council discussed transport and disabled people, transport intermediaries and inland waterways. The Commission agreed to a request by a number of member states, including the United Kingdom, to report on the transport of live animals. The Council was informed that Germany, Denmark and the Benelux countries had completed their work on a regional user charge to be imposed on lorries.
The transport ministers of six central and eastern European countries joined the Council for a meeting over lunch.
Only one formal vote was taken, on the adoption of a Community road safety database. As noted above, the United Kingdom abstained.