2TRAN NEWS / 23-24 May 2016

ADOPTION OF REPORT

Regulation amending Regulation 1406/2002establishing a European Maritime and SafetyAgency (EMSA) - voteRapporteur: Marie-Christine Arnautu, (ENF, FR)Ordinary Legislative Procedure

After adopting one amendment, drawn from theCivil Liberties Committee (LIBE) opinion, a majorityof the Committee voted against the text asamended. As a result, TRAN has yet to adopt aposition on this proposal. Previously, theCommittee did not adopt an opinion to LIBE onthe related proposal concerning the EuropeanBorder and Coastguard.

The consideration of amendments showed a widedivide between the Rapporteur and the majorityof the Committee. She complained about theattitude of other Groups in rejecting her opinion toLIBE on the borders agency two weeks before.She considered it was urgent to send a clearsignal to the EU Institutions that they should nolonger ignore the problems confronting people.

Several Groups said they supported theCommission’s proposals and would vote againstall amendments. Artis Pabriks, the LIBE Rapporteur,explained the desirability of aligning thecorresponding texts in the reports on the bordersagency, EMSA and the fisheries agency.

The Committee did not adopt the EMSA text asamended with 19 votes in favour, 25 against and3 abstentions. On 12 May, in Strasbourg, it did notadopt an opinion on the European Border andCoastguard as no amendments were adopted.

Timetable foreseen

Vote in plenary Tbd

CONSIDERATION OF DRAFT REPORT

Proposal for a Regulation of the Europeanparliament and of the Council on commonrules in the field of civil aviation andestablishing a European Union Aviation SafetyAgencyRapporteur: Marian-Jean Marinescu, (EPP, RO)Ordinary Legislative Procedure

The Commission’s proposal was generallysupported, although a few Members expressedconcerns about the extension of the Agency'sresponsibilities to aviation security. Others saidthat duplication with the national level should beavoided, as should unnecessary administrativeburdens.

Some Members also voiced concerns about thenew overall risk-based approach followed by theCommission proposal. It was felt that this couldlead to reduced safety for purely commercialconsiderations. There was a broad consensus thatthe Agency should have the necessary humanand financial means to be able to carry out all itstasks adequately. Members also called for a cleardivision of responsibility between EASA andEurocontrol.

3TRAN NEWS / 23-24 May 2016

On the issue of environmental protection, someMembers wished to stick to the international legalobligations whilst others thought the EU should gobeyond this. Some Members considered that theRegulation should address working conditions andtheir effect on aviation safety should beaddressed by the Regulation.

Some of the Rapporteur’s ideas, such as thechange of the agency’s name or the obligationfor Member States to have a single aviationauthority, were not supported by all Members,though the Rapporteur recalled these reflectedprevious Parliament positions. As regards ground-handling, several Members expressed worriesabout the Commission proposal.

The Committee had invited a number of expertson drones to provide information on this aspect ofthe report. Richard Thummel (Direction Généralede l'Aviation Civile) presented the existing andplanned French legislation on drones. Hesupported a risk based approach taking intoaccount local parameters.

His colleagues agreed with the risk-basedapproach. Luc Tytgat (EASA) added that it had tobe a European approach to be understood in thesame way by all operators. He also suggestedthat European industry standards should beimplemented and controlled at the national level.Mr Tytgat also recommended the Europeandrones occurrence system.

Jukka Hannola (Finnish Transport Safety Agency)said that the developments of drones required"out of the box thinking" and called for flexibleand balanced rules. He added that small dronesshould be regulated nationally while users shouldbe assisted by all kinds of information aboutpossible uses/restrictions.

Thomas Mildenberger (European CockpitAssociation), underlined that any future EUlegislation on drones should ensure appropriateenforcement of rules/oversight, require pilotlicences for drones operators and include

technical performance limitations and detectand avoidance features. He was concerned thatthe "open category" planned by EASA did notensure any oversight at all.

Members recognised the importance of thedrones sector. Several recalled the Parliament'sreport on the issue. Members put forward ideassuch as geofencing, detect and avoidtechnology, limited areas for use of drones andmore punitive sanctions.

Timetable foreseen

Deadline for amendments 8 June 2016

Vote in TRAN Committee 26 Sept 2016

Vote in plenary Tbd

APPROVAL OF THE AGREEMENT REACHED WITHTHE COUNCIL

Amendment of Regulation (EC) No 1365/2006on statistics of goods transport by inlandwaterways as regards conferring ofdelegated and implementing powersRapporteur: Bas Eickhout (Greens/EFA, NL)Ordinary Legislative Procedure

The agreement provides for a potential extensionof the scope of the passenger transportRegulation. Member States should, on a voluntarybasis, launch pilot studies on the availability ofstatistical data related to passenger transport byinland waterways and inland waterway cross-border services.

It was approved with 38 votes in favour, 4 againstand 5 abstentions.

4TRAN NEWS / 23-24 May 2016

ADOPTION OF OPINION

Preparation of the post-electoral revision ofthe MFF 2014-2020: Parliament's input aheadof the Commission's proposalRapporteur: Marian-Jean Marinescu, (PPE, RO)Opinion to BUDG, Own Initiative Report

Members broadly supported the Rapporteur’sapproach in seeking to ensure adequateinvestment in transport infrastructure. The keyCommittee priority for this revision is to restore thefunds which had been redeployed from theConnected Europe Facility to the European Fundfor Strategic Investments.

Furthermore, the Committee calls for bettercoordination of all EU instruments used to financeTEN-T projects and improved transparency of thefinancing schemes. The Committee alsounderlined the importance of sustainable tourismfor the European economic development, with afocus on promoting SMEs. It stressed theimportance of funding for Single European Skyand Single European Railway Area.

The draft opinion was adopted with 41 votes infavour, 4 against and 2 abstentions.

Timetable foreseen

Vote in BUDG Committee 16 June 2016

Vote in plenary July 2016

PRESENTATION OF DRAFT REPORTS

Report on the application of the PostalServices DirectiveRapporteur: Markus Ferber, (EPP, DE)Implementing Report

Since the last revision of the Directive in 2008,postal services have experienced tremendous

change. Letter-based communication hasdeclined across the EU while online shopping hasled to an increased number of packages andparcels conveyed by postal operators.

Last November, the Commission’s reportconcluded that:

affordable and reliable postal and parcelservices were still crucial for the singlemarket,

enhanced oversight of the parcel marketwas needed;

an affordable and reliable universal servicewas provided for letters;

accurate and comparable informationabout the net cost of the universal servicewas essential;

competition had developed slowly forletter post, but the number of letters haddeclined due to e-substitution; and

parcels were a growth area but there werecomplaints about cross-border deliveryservices.

The Rapporteur noted that although the universalservice had been defined in 2008, Member Statesimplemented it differently. He suggested that theCommission encourage independent nationalregulatory authorities to cooperate more closely.It was worth considering whether the EU should

5TRAN NEWS / 23-24 May 2016

have one representative in the World Postal Unioninstead of 28. He drew attention to thecompetitive distortions caused by incumbentoperators being exempt from VAT, unlike newmarket entrants.

The draft report was generally welcomed by theCommittee. Members agreed that there shouldbe territorial cohesion, so less densely populatedareas should not receive lower quality servicesthan large cities. Some raised concerns aboutemployees’ working conditions.

While acknowledging the growth in electronicservices, Members believed the traditional postalsector needed support and investment to remaincompetitive. The Rapporteur agreed with theCommission that there was no need to modify theDirective. Rather close monitoring was needed toensure its harmonised implementation throughoutEurope.

Timetable foreseen

Deadline for amendments 3 June 2016

Vote in TRAN Committee 12 July 2016

Vote in plenary Sept/Oct

New Opportunities for small transportbusinesses, including the collaborativebusiness modelsRapporteur: Dominique Riquet (ALDE, FR)Own Initiative Report

The Rapporteur explained that small businessessuffer disproportionately from the lack of agenuine single European transport area. Accessto occupations in the transport sector variesconsiderably from one country to another, andresidents and non-residents are not alwaystreated equally. While safety is an indispensablerequirement in any transport activity, it is oftenused as a way of creating barriers. Another

challenge for small businesses is how to takeadvantage of the digital transition.

He called for measures to combat anti-competitive practices, harmonisation of access toregulated transport professions, promotion ofinnovation and protection of consumers. MostMembers who took the floor supported theRapporteur’s approach.

Timetable foreseen

Deadline for amendments 14 June 2016

Vote in TRAN Committee 26 September 2016

Vote in plenary Oct II

Improving the connection and accessibility ofthe transport infrastructure in Central andEastern EuropeRapporteur: Tomasz Piotr Poręba, (PPE, PL)Own Initiative Report

The Rapporteur stressed the importance of furtherimproving the transport infrastructure in MembersStates located in Central and Eastern Europe toensure its socio-economic development, theterritorial cohesion of the EU as a whole and tostrengthen stability and security along the EU’sEastern border.

He called upon Member States and the EU to stepup efforts to develop north-south connections inthe TEN-T network, multi-modal transport hubs andcross-border connections. He also highlighted thepotential for strengthening inland waterwaytransport such as on the Danube, and furtherdevelopment of ports in the Baltic, Adriatic andBlack Seas. During the debate, Members stressedthe need for a strategic approach which shouldbuild on the existing TEN-T network, and reach outto neighbouring countries.

Overall, Members expected more efforts on cross-border cooperation in pursuing projects thatcould benefit the region as a whole. They

6TRAN NEWS / 23-24 May 2016

suggested exploring the use of macro-regionalstrategies as an innovative governance tool. Inthis context, specific projects such as the RailBaltica, Via Carpatia and the Amber rail freightcorridor should be further pursued according toseveral speakers.

Members emphasized that available EU fundinginstruments should be used in a well-coordinatedand complementary manner. Efforts to build upthe necessary knowledge and capacities fordeveloping and implementing projects shouldalso be increased at EU and national levels.

Timetable foreseen

Deadline for amendments 2 June 2016

Vote in TRAN Committee 12 July 2016

Vote in plenary September 2016

PRESENTATION

REFIT evaluation of port reception facilitiesdirectivePresentation by the Commission

The Commission presented an evaluation of theDirective on port reception facilities for ship-generated waste and cargo residues. This wasundertaken within the ongoing REFIT programmeto check the regulatory fitness of EU legislation.The evaluation identified certain implementationproblems regarding the availability of portreception facilities, the delivery of waste fromships and unnecessary administrative burdens.The Commission intended to address the short-comings with interpretative guidelines in the shortterm and preparations for a review of theDirective in 2017.

Members underlined the importance of effectiveimplementation of the Directive’s rules byMember States’ authorities and by ship operators.

Speakers argued that more efforts would beneeded to make the rules for delivering andhandling ship waste more transparent, and toensure that various legal obligations on wastehandling at sea, in ports and on land are appliedcoherently. Members also pointed out the needto address toxic residues from scrubbing, toimprove waste separation and to reduce plasticwaste.

EXCHANGE OF VIEWSStructured Dialogue - Exchange of views withCommissioner Bulç on the Commission WorkProgramme - Presentation on Transportprojects under EFSI/CEF

Commissioner Bulc said that under theConnecting Europe Facility, the first call with abudget of €12.77 billion launched in 2014 andconcluded in 2015 resulted in grants beingallocated to 263 projects and mobilising €28.3billion of investment. Under the current CEF callwith a budget of €7.6 billion, 427 proposals weresubmitted, requesting €12.96 billion. The third callis expected to be announced by the end of thisyear. In 2018, a call for the remaining CEF grantswill be launched.

7TRAN NEWS / 23-24 May 2016

With regard to the European Fund for StrategicInvestments, 23 transport projects have beenapproved by the board of the EuropeanInvestment Bank and two have been signed. Ifwe count projects financed by the EIB outsideEFSI, the total volume of EIB lending for transport in2015 was around €12.5 billion.

Overall, over €40 billion of investment has, or willsoon be, triggered in the transport sector,supporting an estimated half a million temporaryor permanent jobs in the coming years. Thetransport projects alone have a potential togenerate about 60 000 jobs.

Members stressed that the selection of transportprojects eligible for EU funding under CEF and EFSIshould give priority to sustainable modes oftransport such as rail and inland waterways andfocus on the completion of missing links, inparticular cross-border sections, to promotetransport decarbonisation and the completion ofthe TEN-T network. They also regretted the lack ofa sufficient number of projects financed underEFSI in the cohesion countries.

As regards the Commission Work Programme,Members invited the Commissioner to report onthe implementation of the 2016 CWP as well as onthe priorities for 2017. Members asked her toensure that the Road Package was presented bythe end of 2016 as foreseen. Commissioner Bulcreplied that the preparation of the package isunderway, though a delay of one or two monthsmay occur. The 2017 CWP will focus on maritimetransport, while 2018 and 2019 will be dedicatedto initiatives promoting multimodality.

SIGNATURE

Fourth Rail Package: Technical Pillar

Signature of the Interoperability and Rail SafetyDirectives and the European Rail AgencyRegulation by President Schulz and Dutch Minister,Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, in the presence of theRapporteurs Iszaskun Bilbao Barandica (ALDE, ES),Michael Cramer (Greens/EFA, DE) and RobertsZīle (ECR, LV)

8TRAN NEWS / 23-24 May 2016

NEXT TRAN COMMITTEE MEETINGS, BRUSSELS

Planned draft agenda - To be confirmed

Wednesday 15 June, morning:

Exchange of views on professionalqualification in inland navigation/Meissner

Scrutiny of Commission implementingpowers: Single European Sky –national/functional airspace block plans

EU Strategy for liquefied natural gas andgas storage (opinion to ITRE) – presentationof draft opinion/Monteiro de Aguiar

Wednesday 15 June, afternoon:

Approval of agreement on Rail statistics(Rule 73)vote/Cramer

Presentation by Coordinator for Motorwaysof the Seas, Brian Simpson

Unleashing the Potential of Ferries inCoastal Areas and Inland Waterways: AContribution to Multimodal PassengerTransport - presentation of the draftreport/Taylor

Presentation by the Commission of StaffWorking Document REFIT EX-POSTEVALUATION of combined TransportDirective 92/106/EEC

Meeting room: JAN 6Q2

TRAN COMMITTEE MEETINGS 2016, BRUSSELS

Monday, 11 July, 15h00-18h30Tuesday, 12 July, 9h00-12h30Tuesday, 12 July, 15h00-18h30

Thursday, 1 September, 9h00-12h30Thursday, 1 September, 15h00-18h30Monday, 26 September, 15h00-18h30

Monday, 10 October, 15h00-18h30Tuesday, 11 October, 9h00-12h30Tuesday, 11 October, 15h00-18h30

Wednesday, 9 November, 9h00-12h30Wednesday, 9 November, 15h00-18h30Thursday, 10 November, 9h00-12h30

Monday, 5 December, 15h00-18h30

9TRAN NEWS / 23-24 May 2016

USEFUL LINKS

TRAN website:http://www.europarl.europa.eu/TRAN

Policy Department Publication in the European Parliament:http://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/en/supporting-analyses.html

European Aviation Safety Agency newsletters:http://easa.europa.eu/communications/general-publications.php

European Railway Agency newsletters:http://www.era.europa.eu/Communication/Newsletter

European Maritime Safety Agency newsletters:http://www.emsa.europa.eu/news-a-press-centre/newsletters.html

SESAR Joint Undertaking newshttp://www.sesarju.eu/newsroom/all-news

Innovation& Networks Executive Agency:http://ec.europa.eu/inea/en

DG MOVE newsletter:http://ec.europa.eu/transport/newsletter

Netherlands Presidency of the Council:http://english.eu2016.nl/

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