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Dept for Transport

Answer

Mr. Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the outcome was of the Transport Council held on 9 to 10 December; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement. [205188] Mr. McNulty: A transport session of the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council met in Brussels on 9 and 10 December. I represented the UK, together with Nicol Stephen of the Scottish Executive. Following a debate on liability and compensation for damage from oil pollution at sea, the Presidency drew Conclusions. These incorporated wording which I had proposed, stressing the need to ensure that effective financial responsibility is exercised on the part of those involved in transportation of oil by sea, and the need for appropriate revision of the relevant provisions of the 1992 Civil Liability Convention (CLC) and the 1992 International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund (IOPCF). The UK wording was supported in the Council by several other member states. The Commission presented a revised proposal for a Directive on market access to port services. I joined a number of other Ministers in expressing strong reservations about this proposal, which replaces the one rejected by the European Parliament following Conciliation. I pointed out that, while the UK welcomes liberalisation and market opening, some aspects of this new proposal would not help the port sector's development. It is far less satisfactory than the Conciliation text in a number of key areas. The proposal will have a major impact on the ports and shipping sectors, and there is a compelling case for further consultation with stakeholders and an extended impact assessment. These issues will be pursued in the detailed negotiation by the Council Working Group, which will now begin. The Council reached Political Agreement on a Regulation introducing uniform application of the International Safety Management Code in EU member states, and reached a General Approach on a Directive on recognition of seafarers' certificates. Both are acceptable to the UK. The latter corrects an imbalance between EU member states' recognition of certificates issued by other member states and the procedure required under the Convention of the International Maritime Organization. The Council reached a General Approach on a draft Directive on train driver licensing. The agreed compromise text allows individual member states to seek a 10- year derogation (which can be extended) from the licensing system for drivers working only on domestic routes in that State, should a cost benefit analysis show that its application to such drivers would not be worthwhile. This compromise reflects concerns, which I and others had expressed, regarding its application to those drivers--98 per cent. of the UK total. With those concerns met, I was able to accept the proposal. The Council agreed Conclusions formalising the outcome of the Ministerial Conference on road safety held in Verona in October. The Conclusions, which are acceptable to the UK, stressed the need for cooperation and exchange of best practice between member states. The Commission informed the Council that it would review progress on the EU road safety action plan in 2005. The Council reached a partial Political Agreement (Articles only) on a proposal for a Directive amending technical standards for inland waterway vessels, including passenger vessels. The agreed text is acceptable to the UK. When the Annexes have been agreed the Council can reach a Common Position on the proposal. The Council agreed Conclusions on the movement to the deployment and operational phases of the Galileo satellite navigation programme. The Conclusions confirm the services to be developed within the programme. They also confirm: that Galileo should be a civil system under civil control; and that final agreement on the deployment and operational phases should be subject to a risk allocation, including final costs, which is acceptable to the public sector. The UK, supported by Austria, entered a minutes statement, stressing the importance for Council of giving its considered opinion on the results of the negotiations, in particular on the balance of risk allocation between public and private sectors, before the final contract is signed (probably in late 2005). In the expectation that Council's views would be taken into account, the UK was able to accept the Conclusions. There was an oral progress report on a draft Regulation establishing a legal basis for the financing of the Galileo programme during the deployment and commercial operating phases. The Council reached a General Approach on a draft Directive which transposes Eurocontrol's common licence for air traffic controllers into Community law. The text was acceptable to the UK. The Council reached a partial Political Agreement (the Articles and Subparts O and Q of the Annexes) on a draft Regulation on harmonising technical requirements and administrative procedures in the field of civil aviation (EU OPS). Subpart O covers cabin crew training requirements and Subpart Q covers Flight Time Limitation rules. The agreed texts were acceptable to the UK. A Common Position can be adopted after agreement on the remaining Annexes. Subject to a minutes statement that member states can improve their existing bilateral air service agreements, the Council agreed mandates for the Commission to open air transport negotiations with certain Western Balkan countries and with Morocco. These mandates are acceptable to the UK. No votes were taken at this Council.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

205188; 428 c1361-2W;428 c1360-2W

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Aviation Air traffic control Crew Boats Driving EU action Qualifications Oil Pollution Ports Voting behaviour Safety Roads Shipping Trains EU transport policy Galileo system EU Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk