§ Mr. ConnartyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the outcome was of the Transport Council held on 10–11 June; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement. [179173]
§ Mr. DarlingThe transport session of the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council met in Luxembourg on 11 June. I represented the UK.
The Council reached a General Approach on a Directive on enhancing port security. The agreement was based on a Presidency compromise text, which the UK was able to accept. The Directive will, complement Regulation 725/2004 on enhancing ship and port facility security adopted in March 2004.
The Council reached Political Agreement on a Directive on ship-source pollution and the introduction of sanctions, including criminal sanctions, for pollution offences. The agreement was on the basis of a revised text, which met many of the concerns of the UK relating to equity, consistency with international law and the apportionment of responsibilities between the First and Third Pillars of the European Union. The agreed text does differ from MARPOL; however, the UK and likeminded Member States did not command sufficient votes to prevent political agreement from being reached on this basis.
Reports to the Council on maritime issues under AOB dealt with: ratification of maritime conventions, identification documents for seafarers, and the recent maritime safety forum organised by the Presidency.
The Council reached agreement on a number of aspects of the Galileo satellite navigation project. Council conclusions were adopted calling for continuing progress in work leading to implementation of the project. Political Agreement was reached on a Council Regulation on the establishment of management structures. The Council adopted two Decisions on Galileo external relations, the first a cooperation agreement with Israel and the second an agreement with the USA on the operation of Galileo and the GPS. All of the agreed texts were acceptable to the UK.
The Council did not reach Political Agreement on the proposal to amend Directive 1999/62/EC on the charging of heavy goods vehicles for the use of certain infrastructure (the 'Eurovignette' Directive). The key stumbling block to agreement at the March Council had been the hypothecation of revenues to the transport sector. At this Council, I re-stated that the UK cannot accept mandatory hypothecation and that decisions on how to spend revenue raised from road charging should be left to the discretion of member states. Further examination of this and other aspects of the text will now be carried out, so that the proposal can be put to a future Council.
The Council reached Political Agreement on a Regulation amending current legislation on drivers hours' legislation that applies to certain drivers' of large commercial vehicles, and on a Directive on enforcement of those hours. Both of the agreed texts were acceptable to the United Kingdom.
1248WThe Council considered a proposal for harmonising weekend driving bans for heavy goods vehicles involved in international transport. A number of member states (including the UK) indicated that they were not in a position to support this. The proposal could be brought to a future Council.
The Council did not reach Political Agreement on those proposals relating to cabin crew training and flight time limitations contained within the draft Regulation amending Regulation 3922/91 on harmonised operational safety standards and administrative procedures in civil aviation (EU-OPS).
There was an exchange of views on EU-US air transport, based on a report from the Commission on its negotiations with the US. I was joined by other Ministers in stating that an agreement on the lines proposed would be unbalanced, and should not be accepted. It was agreed by the Council that urgent efforts should be made by the Commission in further negotiations with the US, with the overall aim of improving the balance.
There were two aviation items taken under AOB. The Commission reported on progress on passenger name records and on the proposal for mandates for negotiation on air transport with certain neighbouring countries.
Also under AOB, the Presidency gave a progress report on the third package of rail transport measures.