EU-ministers bespreken GALILEO en zee- en luchtvaart (en)

On 31 March, in Brussels, transport ministers adopted conclusions on the mid-term review of Galileo global navigation satellite system, and EGNOS satellite navigation augmentation system by the Commission. A consensus was reached on signing the cooperation agreement with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The Commission also presented the White Paper on transport policy for 2020.

Speaking in the meeting, Pál Völner, Minister of State for Infrastructureof the Ministry of National Development, considered it a success when in only two months, the Council could agree, very rapidly on the Commission’s mid-term review of Galileo and EGNOS. According to him, the Council demonstrated its commitment to both the Galileo, and the EGNOS program.

It was in January that the European Commission prepared the mid-term review of the European satellite radio navigation systems, and detailed the technical accomplishments, as well as the future funding of the programme.

Mr Völner pointed out that the Galileo programme reached a crossroad, and important decisions must be made about its future. According to him, the adoption of the conclusions initiated by the Presidency is a pure political message to the citizens of the EU, to the Commission. Mr Völner was delighted that every Member State supported the efforts of the Presidency.

In the press briefing following the meeting, Pál Völner underlined that the implementation of the Galileo programme must not be jeopardised, even with amid financial difficulties.

The future of satellite-based navigation systems

The Council adopted general approach to guarantee governmental agencies (such as police), priority access to the Galileo’s services in case of emergency. Operating under government supervision, the system will provide useful information for transport, emergency response services, support police in criminal investigation, and to improve internal security especially border control. Pál Völner stressed that the Hungarian Presidency intends to continue its efforts intensively on this matter, in order to reach a smooth agreement and quickly, with the European Parliament on the details of access.

Safety at sea

There was an orientation debate over the modification of the regulation on the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). The ministerial talks were primarily about the extension of EMSA’s competence. The agency was set up in 1999, in the wake of the oil tanker, Erika’s accident off the French coasts, which released a large amount of oil into the Atlantic Ocean. Following the accident of the oil tanker, Prestige near the Spanish and Portuguese coasts in 2002, the functions of the agency, were expanded significantly. Since then, its experts have been constantly on duty, and the agency is prepared to clear pollution.

Pál Völner stressed in the meeting, in 2010 the oil released from the oil rig „Deepwater Horizon”, caused such a destruction in the marine fauna, that cries for further changes in European protection was needed, especially in deep sea oil rigs. The proposal discussed by the Council would extend the mission of EMSA in such a manner that in the future, its clean-up of ships would intervene for oil spills coming not only from ships, but also from mobile oil and gas production facilities, located in the sea. The ministers stated in the meeting that the extension of the agency’s functions is only possible, if the current headcount and budget are maintained; and it must not be done at the expense of fundamental tasks.

Cooperation in air traffic

The Transport Council adopted a resolution on signing a cooperation agreement, between the European Union and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The primary aim of the agreement is to strengthen relations between the European Union and the ICAO, in the field of flight safety, protection of air transport, air traffic control, and environment protection.

The agreement will ensure that European interests are taken into account in the organisation, while enabling members of ICAO, to take advantage of EU developments on air transport to the highest possible extent. Another key of the cooperation agreement between the Union and ICAO, is that both parties will have access to the experience and knowledge of the other party.

Reports of the Commission

Vice-President of the Commission Siim Kallas i, presented the White paper on transport policy to the Council. The document deals with the energy efficiency plan, and the implementation schedule of the Roadmap for moving to a low-carbon economy in 2050. The paper formulates a transport policy strategy, aimed to accomplish ten main aims, in four major areas of action, which are grouped into 40 action packages, detailed in over 120 action initiatives. The in-depth debate of the document is expected at the beginning of May.

The Commissioner for Transport, informed the Council on carbon emission from navigation, and stressed the importance of the involvement of waterway transport, in the combat against global warming.

Trans-European Transport Network and Single European Sky

Pál Völner summed up the informal meeting of transport ministers, which was held in February in Gödöllo, where the agenda included issues on the political planning and implementation, concerning the new Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). The State Minister gave a report on the high profile conference that took place in Budapest, at the beginning of March on the establishment of the Single European Sky, was closed by the adoption of a declaration.