- TRANSPORT KEY TOPICS
- White Paper on the Future of Transport (until 2020)
- If the White Paper is presented on time, the Presidency hopes to adopt Council Conclusions on 3 December 2010. The emphasis will be on integrating environmental concerns in transport, promoting co-modality, developing intelligent transport systems (ITS) and deploying sustainable transport modes.
- Eurovignette / Internalisation of external costs of transport
- The Belgian Presidency will restart work on developing a framework approach, leaving enough flexibility to consider existing systems in the Member States. Areas up for discussion include congestion and non-road transport modes, such as rail, with a view to eventually moving towards an integrated policy roadmap.
- Urban transport
- This will not be discussed at Council level. Belgian regions may decide to organise separate events on this issue, as it is a regional competence.
- Goods transportation logistics
- Belgium will attempt to push for an integrated approach to logistics, instead of focusing on each individual transport mode.
- Road safety
- Work will focus on assessing the current Action Plan which expires in 2010 and preparing the new one. Depending on when the Commission adopts it, the Council could adopt Conclusions before the end of the year. Priorities could include extending safety to other road users, other than accident victims.
- Short-sea shipping
- The Informal Transport Council in September will be devoted to short-sea shipping, links with harbours and integrated logistics with hinterlands. The Motorways of the Seas may also be discussed as an additional topic.
- Maritime transport
- Belgium intends to explore further cooperation between the EU and the IMO. Further discussions may also be held on the necessary measures for maritime safety, following the A Coruña Informal Council under the Spanish Presidency.
- Inland waterways
- This is of particular interest to Belgium, as it will also be chairing the Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine (CCNR) in the second half of 2010. Belgium would like to improve cooperation between the EU and the CCNR and facilitate progress on infrastructures.
- Aviation
- Belgium may continue the debate on crisis management, started by the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud and there could be follow-up work on aviation security charges. Debates will continue on the Open Sky. The Presidency will represent the EU at the ICAO Assembly (September - October 2010) in Montreal, before its own conference on aviation safety & security in October.
- Galileo, EGNOS
- There will be reflections on budgetary issues and management of applications.
- Other possible issues inherited from the Spanish Presidency
- Passenger rights or freight corridors.
- EVENTS
- 15-16 September: Informal Transport Council on short-sea shipping, Antwerp
- 19-22 September: Mobility Week
- 15 October: Transport Council, Luxembourg
- 26-28 October: Aviation summit, Bruges
- 16-17 November: Conference on urban mobility, Brussels
- 3 December: Transport Council, Brussels
