§ Mr. BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the result of the Transport Council held in Brussels on 10 and 11 December. [22250]
§ Dr. StrangThe Transport Council met in Brussels on 10 and 11 December. My hon. Friend the Minister for Transport in London and I represented the United Kingdom.
The Council reached agreement on mandates for the Commission to negotiate Community shipping agreements with India and China. Member States will continue to be involved in the negotiating process and the agreed negotiating mandates reflect this.
The Council agreed an amendment to the EC Directive on Port State Control. This amendment will add the International Safety Management (ISM) code to the list of international safety conventions with which ships must demonstrate compliance when they enter EU ports.
The Council took note of a progress report on discussions following the Commission's communication on maritime external relations, which was considered at the Transport Council in June.
There was discussion of the recent Commission Decision extending application of the Community Regulation (3577/92) on maritime cabotage to the European Economic Area (EEA).
Following a statement by Sweden on the inquiry report into the Estonia disaster, the Commission said it would consider whether new proposals would be required in the light of this and other reports.
The Commission called on the Council for a commitment to decide at the March 1998 Council on a mandate for Community-level negotiations with the US on market access in air transport. A number of Member States, including the UK, questioned the Commission's approach and opposed setting a deadline. There will be a further discussion at the March Council. Commissioner Kinnock underlined his disappointment with this outcome, and said that the Commission would now be pursuing legal action against certain Member States.
The Council agreed that further work preparing for the establishment of a European Aviation Safety Authority should be carried out, on the working hypothesis that the new authority would be set up as an international organisation.
There was a progress report to the Council on preparations for Community membership of the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (EUROCONTROL); there were also progress reports on the proposed directives on airport charging and on cabin crew training.
357WThe Council (with Germany abstaining) approved an agreement under which the Community will cooperate with EUROCONTROL and the European Space Agency (ESA) on the development of the European segment of a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).
The Council adopted conclusions calling on Russia to end the levying of excessive charges for overflight of Siberia.
The Council had a further discussion of the proposed directive on heavy goods vehicle taxation and charging (the "Eurovignette" directive), but was unable to reach agreement.
The Commission reported on negotiations with Switzerland on land transport. It was agreed that negotiations should continue.
The Council agreed conclusions noting the Commission's intention to produce proposals on working time in road transport and on driver training. A number of Member States commented on the conclusions, which were prompted by a French initiative. The UK accepted the conclusions, stating that it supported the need for decent working conditions for commercial drivers, including working time, but the treatment of working time in Community law needed careful study.
The Council reached agreement on a Directive harmonising vehicle registration documents.
The Council discussed lorry blockades and the Commission suggested ways of facilitating freedom of movement during disputes.
The Commission reported on progress on a proposal to clarify and harmonise weekend and night-time lorry bans; there was also discussion of harmonised Community driving licences.