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Work Programme of the Czech Presidency
Publication date: 06 January 2009
Source www.eu2009.cz
Optimisation of the Functioning of the Internal Transport Market
Exploiting the real economic potential of the EU would be unthinkable without a fully operational internal transport market. The Presidency will primarily support measures leading to equal conditions in the EU transport market and to the optimisation of the use of individual modes of transport. When implementing the measures contained in the ‘Green Transport Package’, the Presidency will focus on the charging of the infrastructure, with the aim of incorporating external costs within the charges for the use of transport infrastructure. The Presidency will focus intensively on discussing the proposal for the Directive on the charging of heavy goods vehicles (the ‘Eurovignette’ Directive), with a view to reaching an agreement among the Member States in the Council. A significant initiative of the Commission is the Action Plan for the Deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) in Europe. The inadequate pace of the implementation of these technologies restricts the possibilities of an efficient management of road traffic. Consequently, the Presidency intends to initiate the adoption of Council conclusions and to launch debates on the proposal for the Directive on implementing ITS. If the Commission submits the Action Plan on Urban Mobility, the Presidency will submit and discuss the conclusions of the Council on this initiative. Aiming to reduce the negative impact of freight road traffic on the environment, the Presidency will discuss the proposal for the amendment to the Marco Polo II Programme Regulation for the granting of Community financial assistance.
Completing the Trans-European Transport Network is a prerequisite for a fully operational internal market. The Presidency deems it desirable that the Commission should be informed well in advance about the opinions of the Member States as to the direction to be taken in this area. By opening a discussion on this topic, the Presidency intends to use the Green Paper on the future of the TEN-T policy that is now being prepared.
The Presidency is also ready to launch debates on proposals for regulations concerning the rights of bus and water transport passengers.
Elimination of Administrative Barriers to Business in the Transport Sector
Doing business in international road transport is still not completely free of certain barriers. With the aim of eliminating these barriers, the Presidency will seek to reach an agreement between the Council and the European Parliament on the Road Package at second reading. In addition, the adoption of a proposal amending the Directive on the organisation of the working time of persons performing mobile road transport activities should have a positive impact on the reduction of administrative barriers to business in the transport sector. In respect of this proposal, the Presidency will seek to reach consensus between the Member States.
Road Safety
The high number of people killed on European roads requires an enhancement of Europe-wide effort to improve road safety. Under the Czech Presidency, there should be an opening of a discussion on the future orientation of EU policies concerning road safety. Its outcome should be the adoption of the new European Road Safety Action Programme for 2011-2020 in the second half of 2009 or in the first half of 2010.
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