Speech by Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani before the European Parliament Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN)

Transcription

1 SPEECH/09/124 Antonio Tajani Commission Vice-President responsible for transport policy Speech by Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani before the European Parliament Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) EP Committee on Transport and Tourism Brussels, 16 March 2009

2 Mr President Honourable Members, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is with great pleasure that I return today to the Transport Committee for probably the last time in this parliamentary term to outline the latest state of affairs and possible future shape of transport policy in 2009 and Exactly nine months ago, last June, I addressed you, asking to support my appointment as Commissioner responsible for transport. On that occasion I reiterated my firm intention to continue the tasks undertaken by Jacques Barrot as Vice-President, while reserving the right to specify a number of priorities. Those priorities, you will recall, concerned the following dossiers: the 'single European sky', the 'greening transport' package, the conclusion of the maritime package, road safety and passenger rights. Now that we are just a few months away from the end of your term of office and, soon after, mine too, I think it appropriate to take stock of the situation together. 1. The Single European Sky. Negotiations are proceeding well. At the trialogue meeting in Strasbourg last week, we reached agreement on the questions still unresolved. I am therefore quite sure that we can conclude the entire package at first reading. In this respect I should like to thank Parliament for its determination and, first and foremost, rapporteur Marinescu for supporting the Commission in seeking agreement across the board. The single European sky is an urgently-needed measure, particularly at this time of crisis. Rationalising air routes and reducing flight times and fuel consumption will have a beneficial effect on airlines' costs and hence on their competitiveness. I therefore believe that it would be appropriate to bring forward the date of the package's entry into force as much as possible. My actions over the last months have been prompted by the desire to find a proper balance between competiveness and respect for the environment; the single sky exemplifies this paradigm. 2. The same balance is at stake in the greening transport package. As repeatedly requested by the European Parliament, the Commission has developed an integrated plan to make transport more environmentally-friendly, supported by practical legislative proposals. Last week's debate on the 'Eurovignette' showed that, both in Parliament and in the Council, there are various schools of thought that are sometimes at odds with each other. The result of the plenary vote confirmed that the Commission's proposal may have found the point of balance between the various tendencies. Nonetheless, amending the Directive will be a lengthy process and I do not think that it will be possible to assess the situation fully until September. Lastly, there remains one point on which the Commission and Parliament are in agreement: the need for a resolute approach to the problem of noise pollution caused by railways. 2

3 In this respect, the Commission will present its proposals in the context of the revision of the first railway package, which is due to be adopted in autumn The guidance you have expressed will certainly be taken into due consideration. -3. Conclusion of the maritime package. Last week's vote endorsed what I consider to be a genuine EU political success a quality leap for European citizen safety, primarily, and for European coasts and seas. In maritime transport there is no zero risk; having said that, the legislator has a duty to limit the risk as far as possible. This was the common objective which, together, we have achieved. With these measures, moreover, we are sending two strong messages to the international maritime community: - firstly, that the European Union bases its legislation and activities on the principles and standards of the International Maritime Organisation and does not hesitate to go further in the interests of protecting citizens and the environment; - secondly, that honest and responsible operators may operate in a more equitable competitive environment. Those that practice social dumping or that do not comply with safety regulations will find themselves under greater pressure; this is something that gains in importance in a period of economic recession such as we are experiencing at the moment. One phase comes to a close and another one opens: that of putting these new standards into practice and applying them. Thanks to the crucial contribution of the European Maritime Safety Agency, the Commission will now step up its vigilance. 4. Road safety. Despite our very best efforts, we are nonetheless still a long way from the European objective of halving the number of road accident victims by You may be assured, however, that the Commission has no intention of slowing the pace in this matter. Even so, one of the legislative proposals that could make a major contribution to punishing the offences which are responsible for three out of every four fatalities I am referring, as you will be aware, to the cross-border recognition of penalties is currently blocked in Council over questions of legal basis. Developments are not expected during either the Czech or the Swedish Presidencies. The Commission, accordingly, intends to review the proposal in the course of 2009 to take account of the amendments submitted by the EP and some of the aspects discussed in Council. A revised proposal should be ready by early This would also make it possible, assuming that the Lisbon Treaty will be entering into force, to resolve the problem associated with the legal basis and the third pillar, which would in fact be overcome by the new Treaty's entering into force. Lastly, I should like to point out that work on preparing the future action plan for road safety is continuing and it is expected to be presented in early Passenger rights. You are aware of the importance I attach to passenger rights and the energy and passion I have devoted to this dossier which, more than any others, closely affects the lives of European citizens. 3

4 I believe it is essential to ensure that all passengers can benefit from the same rights regardless of the mode of transport. I am therefore opposed to introducing exceptions concerning, for example, local bus transport. Within the Council, the two proposals are progressing in different ways: work led by the forthcoming Swedish Presidency on maritime transport is proceeding satisfactorily; the working party's analysis of bus transport, however, has not even begun. To get matters moving, I have asked that both proposals be discussed at the informal Council meeting on 29 and 30 April. It is highly likely that it will not be possible to conclude the work before the elections, but I know that I can count on Parliament to relaunch the legislative process. I would like, lastly, to inform you that in the second half of 2009 the Commission will publish a report on the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 on the rights of air passengers. On that basis we shall assess whether to present in 2010 a proposal to amend the Regulation. Honourable Members, This is my brief summary of the state of play in terms of the priorities I defined nine months ago when I came before you for the first time. I have not, however, confined myself to this. I have gone further, taking full responsibility for a new project for the future of transport policy in Europe. The changes in progress force us to rethink the very concept of mobility. On 9 and 10 March, I therefore brought together the main stakeholders in the sector for a brainstorming session. Your chairman, Mr Costa, representing your committee, took an active part in the conference. Altogether there were 700 representatives of the world of transport who met in Brussels to discuss matters with us. The ultimate goal of this process is to draw up, in 2010, the next White Paper on the future of transport policy. As an interim phase, in June I will present a communication outlining the status of work in progress and will welcome your contributions. The Swedish Presidency is very interested and will make it one of the priorities of its term of office. In addition, I have launched, as you know, a consultation on the revision of the TEN- T policy. Answering the challenges of climate change, stepping up the integration of the network within the Community, providing the services that users expect: these are the subjects on which we are collecting contributions from all interested parties on the basis of the Green Paper adopted by the Commission on 4 February with a view to revising the TEN-T guidelines, a project planned for Ladies and Gentlemen, Transport is in a crucial transition period. We need to look beyond the current crisis and understand that innovation and technological development, globalisation, sustainability, and the saturation of infrastructures call for a profound transformation of the transport system. Since 16 June last year, there has been a critical change in the international economic situation. At that time the recession and the effects of this crisis, which today are plain for all to see, were not quite so clear. Europe has taken timely and coordinated action in response to the crisis through a series of measures, including the economic renewal plan on which Parliament gave its opinion last week. 4

5 In this connection, it is significant that the European Parliament insisted on the importance of investing in transport infrastructure, which, unlike that in other sectors, has an extremely high multiplier effect and is immediately effective in countering the cyclic trend. In the context of the crisis, airlines are experiencing difficult times. IATA and Eurocontrol predictions show that the abrupt reduction in air traffic, both goods and passengers, under way since the end of 2008 will have a significant impact on the planning of 2009 summer season flights. According to the 'use it or lose it' principle, as you are well aware, many airlines may risk losing slots they currently have or being constrained to fly aircraft practically empty. This is why the Commission, with the measure adopted last week, is proposing a freeze on the 'use it or lose it' rule for at least six months. The proposal is also intended to prevent individual initiatives and a proliferation of requests for State aid. The Commission has often been accused of failing to react or not reacting in good time. Considering the way in which the situation is becoming more acute and the limited amount of time available before the end of the current term of office, I thought it proper to give Parliament and the Council the opportunity to make a choice on the matter. As I already had reason to underline, last week during the meeting with the transport committee coordinators, it is a proposal that has already been introduced in the past in crisis situations 9/11, the SARS alert and one that can surely be improved upon, which Parliament, as a sovereign institution, may decide to support or not. I thought it the Commission's duty to place Parliament and the Council in a position to do so. Obviously, the effects of the economic crisis are not limited to the aviation sector. I therefore asked if a discussion on the subject could be included in the agenda of the breakfast meeting of the Transport Council at the end of March. It would be based on a note that is currently in preparation which, in addition to analysing the impact of the crisis on the transport sector, proposes tangible actions in the short and medium term. Lastly, I would like to conclude my address today on a positive note, one that bodes well for the future. Last week we made the way clear for the privatisation of Olympic Airways and Alitalia. 5