Transport Council (Hansard, 30 March 2000)

§ Mr. Hill

The Transport Council met in Brussels on 28 March. My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Transport represented the United Kingdom.

The Commission gave a further report on progress of the definition phase of the Galileo satellite navigation project. Commissioner de Palacio asked for member states' support at the forthcoming World Radio Conference, to ensure that the Galileo project has the radio frequencies needed. She reported that the public private partnership had attracted expressions of interest from the private sector. My right hon. and noble Friend emphasised the need for full cost benefit analysis of the project. The Presidency asked for a written report from the Commission to the June Council.

There was a debate on the Commission's Communication on air transport and the environment, first presented at the December 1999 Council. The Communication describes the Commission's proposed five-year work plan for policies and measures to limit or reduce noise and gaseous emissions from aircraft. Member states broadly welcomed the Commission's approach. The UK was among the member states, which emphasised that, where possible, international noise standards should be developed at the global level through the International Civil Aviation Organisation. Likewise, on the question of aviation fuel tax, my right hon. and noble Friend joined others in stressing that this was best handled at the global level. Council Conclusions were adopted, confirming the Commission plan and setting priority areas for action.

The Commission set out recent development on the hushkits issue. The Regulation on the use of hushkitted aircraft would come into force on 4 May; it was possible that some changes could be made to the date of application to third country aircraft. Work would continue on a joint declaration, committing the EU and the US to a new standard in ICAO. My right hon. and noble Friend referred to the need for a new international standard, and stressed that the Commission should do all possible to seek a solution. The Council agreed Conclusions, endorsing the Commission's further engagement with the US.

The Commission stated that it would be producing a list of air passengers' existing rights. This would be followed by legislative proposals. At the June Council, they would report in full on the recent consultation exercise. The Presidency, identifying the issue of a European Charter of Air Passenger Rights as a priority, encouraged the Commission to submit its Communication, including legislative proposals in time for the June Council.

The Commission presented a working paper on establishment of a European aviation safety authority (EASA). My right hon. and noble Friend expressed disappointment that the paper did not provide a full analysis of the options of an international organisation or 231W an EU agency, as the December Council had requested. The Presidency said that the Transport Council should aim to take a decision in June on the best legal form for the EASA.

The Presidency tabled a revised text of the draft directive on the interoperability of conventional rail systems, which had been presented by the Commission to the December Council, and which the UK broadly supports. The Presidency noted that substantial progress had been made in the Working Group. The Commission agreed that progress had been made and felt that a common position on the draft directive should be possible in June.

The Commission presented to the Council its Communication on road safety. Key proposals for action were: further development of the European new vehicles crash testing programme (ENCAP), use of speed limiters on larger vehicles, higher levels of seatbelt and child restraint usage, safer car fronts, and targeting of accident blackspots. Legislative proposals would follow in these areas. My right hon. and noble Friend welcomed the general approach of the Communication, which fitted in well with the recently announced UK road safety strategy. The Communication also refers to the Commission's intention to bring forward a recommendation for a maximum blood alcohol level of 0.5 milligrams per millilitre. The Presidency concluded that further work should be done on the Communication, in preparation for discussion at the June Council.

The Commission introduced new proposals on maritime safety, stressing that it was important to make progress in preventing future accidents like that involving the Erika. Action was proposed in two stages. The first stage would involve measures tightening the regulation on port state control of ship standards, improving control of classification societies, and phasing out single-hulled tankers, the last in line with the US timetable. In the short-term, oil companies would be asked to avoid voluntarily the use of tankers more than 15 years old. The second stage of the Commission's proposals involves a change in the information system for all ships, building on the new EQUASIS international database, better monitoring of sea movements of freighters, setting up a European Maritime Safety Agency, and examination of the liability and compensation aspects of oil pollution accidents. Member states supported the proposals for directives on port state control and classification societies, but, more generally, the need for the International Maritime Organisation to be involved was widely stressed. The UK was among member states, which stressed the importance of a proper prior assessment of the economic impact of a rapid phase-out of single hulled tankers. My right hon. and noble Friend also noted the UK's recent proposals to increase the ceiling for payments from the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund (IOPCF), and suggested that wider reform should be pursued through the IMO. The Commissioner felt that global action alone was not enough and argued for her proposal on single hulls. The Presidency, however, asked for more work to be done in preparation for the June Council. They urged member states to work together to increase compensation levels in the IOPCF.

232W

Under other business, the Commission reported that there had been good progress in the High Level Group set up following the presentation at the December Council of the Commission Communication on air traffic management ("A Single European Sky").