HC Deb 11 June 1993 vol 226 cc382-3W
Mr. Harris

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the result of the Transport Council held in Luxembourg on 7 and 8 June.

Mr. MacGregor

The Transport Council met in Luxembourg on 7 and 8 June. I represented the United Kingdom.

The Council discussed the Commission's communication on a common policy on safe seas. I stressed yet again that sub-standard shipping is a major and urgent problem in terms of the safety of human life and the environment; and that concerted action by all member states against sub-standard shipping both safeguarded EC interests and allowed us together to press for worldwide improvement through a tough new regime for all ships calling at Community ports or passing through Community waters. The Council, following discussions, welcomed and agreed the communication. This is a major step forward towards firm Community action, and the Commission will now bring forward proposals swiftly.

Following the International Maritime Organisation's failure to agree action on higher standards for ferry safety, I informed the Council that the United Kingdom would pursue higher standards unilaterally. I said this was in line with the EC policy on safe seas and that the most recent accident in the North sea showed the importance of action in this field.

The Council met the European Parliament under the conciliation procedure and reached agreement on a transport infrastructure programme for 1993–94 with a budget of 325 mecu.

The Council adopted conclusions on the Commission's white paper on the future development of the common transport policy. These conclusions are wide ranging. They stress the importance of completing the single market and ensuring its effective operation and refer to the importance of the priniciple of subsidiarity and the need to avoid distortion of competition through state aids, as well as covering safety, environmental issues, infrastructure development and external relations.

The Council agreed that a working group on aviation external relations should be set up. It considered amendments to the regulation on computerised reservation systems, but referred the issue of the physical separation of such systems from parent airlines back to COREPER for further discussion. The Commission reported that it would be putting forward its promised revision of the guidelines on aviation state aids. The Commissioner announced that he was setting up an expert committee to study current problems facing the Community's aviation industry. He undertook to produced a draft negotiating mandate by the September Council for opening transport negotiations with Switzerland, together with a study of relations in a wider framework.

The Council reached political agreement on guidelines for Community trans-European networks for combined transport, roads and inland waterways. Following my intervention about difficulties being encountered by a United Kingdom operator, the Commission stated that Community funding would not be allocated to infrastructure projects not open to operators according to Community rules.

The Council discussed road transport taxation and charging and road haulage cabotage, and agreed to hold an additional meeting on Saturday 19 June on these issues.