6.-8.VI.2007
COUNCIL OFTHE EUROPEAN UNION / EN
C/07/133
10456/07 (Presse 133)
PRESS RELEASE
2805th Council meeting
Transport, Telecommunications and Energy
Luxembourg, 6-8 June 2007
PresidentMr Michael GLOS, Federal Minister of Economics and Technology
Mr Wolfgang TIEFENSEE, Federal Minister of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs of Germany
10456/07 (Presse 133)1
EN
6.-8.VI.2007
Main results of the CouncilThe Council held a policy debate on key issues concerning the gas and electricity internal market.
The Council reached political agreementson the followingproposals:
- a draft Regulation on roaming charges,
- a draftDirective establishing a Community vessel traffic monitoring and information system
- a draft Directive on port State control
- a draft Directive establishing principles governing the investigation of accidents in the maritime transport sector
- a draft Regulationamending the Regulation establishing a European Aviation Safety Agency.
The Council adopted a resolution on the Galileo programme.
In addition the Council adopted conclusions on:
- i2010 - Annual Information Society Report 2007
- European Energy Strategy for Transport
- the EU position on the inclusion of aviation in the European emissions trading to be taken at the ICAO Assembly in September 2007.
The Council adopted, without debate, a Decision amending the EU's system of own resources for the financing of its general budget.
10456/07 (Presse 133)1
EN
6.-8.VI.2007
CONTENTS1
PARTICIPANTS...... 6
ITEMS DEBATED
ENERGY...... 9
Gas and Electricity Market...... 9
International relations in the field of energy...... 10
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND POSTAL AFFAIRS...... 11
Roaming on public mobile networks...... 11
Radio frequency identification in Europe...... 12
Internal market of Community postal services...... 13
i2010 - Annual Information Society Report 2007 - Council conclusions...... 14
TRANSPORT...... 15
Maritime Safety...... 15
–Vessels traffic monitoring and information system...... 15
–Port State control...... 16
–Liability of passenger shipping in the event of accidents...... 17
–Investigation of accidents in the maritime transport sector...... 18
–European Long Range Identification and Tracking Data Centre...... 19
Convention on a Code of Conduct for Liner Conferences...... 20
GALILEO - Council resolution...... 21
European energy strategy for transport- Council conclusions...... 22
Inland transport of dangerous goods...... 23
Interoperability of the Community rail system...... 24
European Aviation Safety Agency...... 25
Operation of air transport services in the Community...... 26
European air traffic management system (SESAR) - Council resolution...... 27
Inclusion of aviation into emission trading - Council conclusions...... 28
OTHER BUSINESS...... 29
–EU Policy Workshop on Offshore Wind Power Deployment...... 29
–Evaluation of the European Network and Information Security Agency...... 29
–Ratification of international maritime conventions...... 29
–Third railway package – results of the conciliation with the European Parliament...... 29
–Compensation to passengers in the event of denied boarding or delay of flights...... 29
OTHER ITEMS APPROVED
TRANSPORT
–Maritime Labour Convention...... 30
–Accession of the EC to the Belgrade Convention...... 30
–Extension of the major transEuropean transport axes to the neighbouring countries - Council conclusions30
EXTERNAL RELATIONS
–Somalia...... 31
–EC/Russia agreement on Multilateral Nuclear Environmental Programme...... 31
BUDGET
–EU budget - Own resources system...... 32
CRISIS MANAGEMENT
–UN-EU cooperation in crisis management...... 32
APPOINTMENTS
–European Chemicals Agency...... 33
10456/07 (Presse 133)1
EN
6.-8.VI.2007
PARTICIPANTS
The governments of the Member States and the European Commission were represented as follows:
Belgium:
Mr Renaat LANDUYTMinister for Mobility
Mr Marc VERWILGHENMinister for Economic Affairs, Energy, Foreign Trade and Scientific Policy
Bulgaria:
Mr Petar MUTAFCHIEVMinister for Transport
Ms Galina TOSHEVADeputy Minister of Economy and Energy
Czech Republic:
Mr Aleš ŘEBÍČEKMinister for Transport
Mr Martin TLAPADeputy Minister for Industry and Trade
Denmark:
Mr Flemming HANSENMinister for Transport and Energy
Mr Helge SANDERMinister for Science, Technology and Development
Germany:
Mr Wolfgang TIEFENSEEFederal Minister for Transport, Building and Urban Development
Mr Michael GLOSFederal Minister for Economic Affairs and Technology
Mr Jörg HENNERKESState Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development
Mr Joachim WUERMELINGState Secretary, Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Technology
Estonia:
Mr JuhanPARTSMinister for Economic Affairs and Communications
Ireland:
Mr John BROWNEMinister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food (with special responsibility for Forestry)
Greece:
Mr Mihail-Georgios LIAPISMinister for Transport and Communications
Mr Manolis KEFALOGIANNISMinister for Mercantile Marine
Mr Anastasios NERATZISState Secretary for Development
Spain:
MsMagdalena ÁLVAREZ ARZAMinister for Infrastructure and Transport
France:
Mr Alain JUPPÉMinister of Ecology, Sustainable Planning and Development
Mr Jean-Louis BORLOOMinister for the Economy, Finance and Employment
Mr Dominique BUSSEREAUState Secretary under the Minister of State, Minister of Ecology and Sustainable Planning and Development, in charge of Transport
Italy:
Mr Alessandro BIANCHIMinister for Transport
Mr Paolo GENTILONIMinister for Communications
Mr Sergio D'ANTONIState Secretary for Economic Development
Cyprus:
Mr Haris THRASSOUMinister for Communications and Works
Latvia:
Mr Ainārs ŠLESERSMinister for Transport
Mr JurijsSTRODSMinister for Economic Affairs
Lithuania:
Mr Vytas NAVICKASMinister for the Economy
Mr Alminas MAČIULISState Secretary at the Ministry of Transport and Communications
Luxembourg:
Mr Lucien LUXMinister for the Environment, Minister for Transport
Mr Jeannot KRECKÉMinister for Economic Affairs and Foreign Trade, Minister for Sport
Mr Jean-Louis SCHILTZMinister for Cooperation and Humanitarian Action, Minister for Communications, Minister for Defence
Hungary:
Mr Balázs FELSMANNState Secretary (with special responsibility), Ministry of Economic Affairs and Transport
Malta:
Mr Ninu ZAMMITMinister for Resources and Infrastructure
Mr Censu GALEAMinister for Competitiveness and Communications
Netherlands:
Mr Camiel EURLINGSMinister for Transport, Public Works and Water Management
Mr Frank HEEMSKERKState Secretary for Economic Affairs (in international context: Minister for Foreign Trade)
Austria:
Mr Werner FAYMANNFederal Minister for Transport, Innovation and Technology
Ms Christine MAREKState Secretary, Federal Ministry for Economics and Labour
Poland:
Mr Jerzy POLACZEKMinister for Transport
Mr Piotr Grzegorz WOŹNIAKMinister for Economic Affairs
Mr Rafal WIECHECKIMinister for the Maritime Economy
Portugal:
Mr Mário LINOMinister for Public Works, Transport and Communications
Mr Manuel PINHOMinister for Economic Affairs and Innovation
Romania:
Mr Ludovic ORBANMinister of Transport
Mr Varujan VOSGANIANMinister of Economy and Commerce
Mr Balint Marton PORCSALMIState Secretary, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
Slovenia:
Mr Andrej VIZJAKMinister for the Economy
Mr Peter VERLIČState Secretary at the Ministry of Transport
Slovakia:
Mr Ľubomír VÁŽNYMinister for Transport, Post and Telecommunications
Mr Ľubomír JAHNÁTEKMinister for the Economy
Finland:
Ms Suvi LINDÉNMinister for Communications
Sweden:
Ms Åsa TORSTENSSONMinister for Communications, Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications
United Kingdom:
Mr Stephen LADYMANMinister of State for Transport
Ms Margaret HODGEMinister of State for Industry and the Regions
Mr Peter TRUSCOTTParliamentary Under Secretary of State for Energy
Commission:
Mr Jacques BARROTVice President
Ms Viviane REDINGMember
Ms Neelie KROESMember
Mr Charlie MCCREEVYMember
Mr Andris PIEBALGSMember
10456/07 (Presse 133)1
EN
6.-8.VI.2007
ITEMS DEBATED
ENERGY
Gas and Electricity Market
The Council held a policy debate on key issues (unbundling, effective Regulation, adequate infrastructure investment and cooperation among network operators)on the internal market of gas and electricity on the basis of a questionnaire prepared by the German Presidency (9905/07).
Priorities for action in relation to these issues have been identified in the European Council Action Plan (2007 – 2009) "Energy Policy for Europe" (7224/07) adopted last March.
The debate will be useful for the Commission in preparation of its legislative package on the internal market which is expected in the autumn.
Before entering into the debate, the Council was informed about the outcome of the meeting of the Pentalateral Energy Forum (Central Western Europe) that took place on 6 June and the Memorandum of Understanding on market coupling and security of supply in Central Western Europe signed on that occasion.
International relations in the field of energy
The Council took note of information provided by the Presidency and Commissioner Andris Piebalgs on the events and developments relating to international relations that have taken place during the German Presidency or will take place in the near future. (9489/07). This information covered inter alia relations with the USA, Russia, OPEC, the Energy Community, Africa, Brazil, Turkey and Norway as well as events related to energy efficiency and the launch of the Network of Energy Security Correspondents (NESCO).
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND POSTAL AFFAIRS
Roaming on public mobile networks
Approving the result of the first-reading opinion of the European Parliament adopted on 23 May 2007, the Council reached a political agreement on a proposal for a Regulation on roaming on public mobile networks within the Community and amending Directive 2002/21/EC on a common regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services (10094/07).
Following to the legal linguists experts final verification, the Regulation is due to be adopted on 25 June 2007 and published in the Official Journal of the EU before the end of June. It will enter into force one day after its publication.
The objective of the Regulation is to ensure that users of public mobile telephone networks when travelling within the Community do not pay excessive prices for roaming services when making calls and receiving calls. The Regulation lays down rules on the charges that may be levied by mobile operators for the provision of roaming services for voice calls originating and terminating within the Community.
For more details see press release 10492/07.
Radio frequency identification in Europe
The Council held, on the basis of a Presidency questionnaire (9903/07), an exchange of views on radio frequency identification[1] (RFID).
The Council agreed that this new technology represents a great potential for the EU's competition and growth, but that a balanced approach between its development and the privacy and data protection issues must be found.
The Commission adopted on 15 March 2007 its communication "Radio frequency identification in Europe: steps towards a policy framework" (7544/07+ADD1), based on the results of a public consultation on the role of RFID in a modern information society. It proposes follow-up steps to overcome barriers to wide take-up to benefit society and the economy while incorporating appropriate privacy, health and environmental safeguards.
According to current forecasts, the RFID marketwill grow fast in the next 10 years. It willcreate many new opportunities for business and society, but first there are a number of political and social issues to be considered, in particular in the areas of privacy, security, technological reliability and international compatibility. With wider use, it becomes essential that the implementation of RFID takes place under a legal framework that affords citizens effective safeguards for fundamental values, health, data protection and privacy. RFID is also seen as an opportunity for a new phase of development of the information society, often referred to as the "internet of things" in which the internet does not only link computers and communications terminals, but potentially any of our daily surrounding objects.
The German Presidency will organise, in cooperation with the European Commission, a conference on "RFID: towards the internet of things" to take place in Berlinon 25-26 June 2007. The objective of the conference is to identify political approaches and concepts at European and international level.
The forthcoming Portuguese Presidency will organise a high-level conference on RFID in Lisbon on 15-16 November 2007.
Internal market of Community postal services
The Council took note of a progress report(9906/07) on a proposal for a Directive amending the current postal Directive 97/67/EC concerning the full accomplishment of the internal market of Community postal services.
The Ministers also held an informal exchange of views over lunch on the main outstanding issues on the basis of the Presidency note (9946/07).
The technical work within the Council preparatory bodies will be pursued in the context of the forthcoming inter-institutional deliberations with the European Parliament (co-decision).
The Commission approved its proposal in October 2006 (14357/06+ADD1, ADD2). The objectives of the proposal areto achieve an internalmarket for postal services through the removal of exclusive and special rights in the postal sectorand the confirmation of the market opening timetable laid out in the current Directive, safeguard acommon level of universal services for all users in all EU countries and set harmonised principlesfor postal services Regulation in an open market environment, with the aim of reducing all obstacles to internal market functioning.
The report prepared by the German Presidency takes stock of the significant progress achieved so far on key issues such as the common objective of safeguarding a high-quality universal service, the principles for the designation of universal services providers, the rules for granting authorisations to postal service providers, the provision of information about the universal service, access to postal infrastructure and services, tariff principles and transparency of accounts and ensuring complaints procedures for users and postal service providers. In addition, it identifiesthe main outstanding issues that will need to be addressed in the coming monthsunder the Portuguese Presidency.
The European Parliament is expected to adopt its first-reading opinion in July 2007.
i2010 - Annual Information Society Report 2007 - Council conclusions
See the full text of the conclusions at (9955/07):
TRANSPORT
Maritime Safety
–Vessels traffic monitoring and information system
The Council reached unanimously a political agreement on a proposal for a Directive amending Directive 2002/59/EC[2]establishing a Community vessel traffic monitoring and information system(9924/07).
The Council will adopt its common position at one of its forthcoming meetings after finalisation ofthe text and will forward it to the European Parliament for a second reading in the framework of thecodecision procedure.
The Commission presented this proposal in December 2005 as part of its third maritime safety package (5171/06)[3].
The draft Directive is aimed in particular at incorporating additional measures for better ship safety and environmental protection and harmonising implementation of plans of places of refuge by the Member States.
The text agreed by the Council differs slightly from the text of the general approach agreed in June 2006 (10042/06, p. 43). Some new recitals were drafted in the light of the general approach and some European Parliament amendments acceptable to the Council were included in the text. The text of the political agreement proposes to:
- increase safety in fishing vessels with a length of more than 15 metres overall by fitting them with automatic identification systems (AIS);
- establish specific measures to enhance maritime safety in ice conditions;
- establish the rules for the acceptance or refusal of ships in need of assistance in places of refuge and;
- enhance ship monitoring through the SafeSeaNet information exchange system.
The European Parliament adopted its first reading opinion on 25 April 2007 (8724/07, p. 69).
–Port State control
The Council reached a political agreement on a proposal for a Directive on port State control(9366/07).
The Maltese delegation indicated that it would abstain from voting. The Commission stated that it could not support the text agreed by the Council.
The Council will adopt its common position at one of its forthcoming meetings after finalisation ofthe text and will forward it to the European Parliament for a second reading in the framework of thecodecision procedure.
The proposal was sent to the Council in January 2006 (5632/06). One of seven proposals contained in the Commission's third maritime safety package, it is aimed at recasting successive amendments to Directive 95/21/EC on port state control in a consolidated text, as well as simplifying or amending certain provisions in order to reinforce the effectiveness and quality of inspections on ships by the port State.
The text agreed by Ministers incorporates a very few mainly editorial changes to the general approach adopted by the Council in December 2006.
The text agreedestablishes a new inspection regime with the aim of ensuring that a maximum of inspections are performed by Member States, applying these inspections to ships calling at their ports and to ships at anchor in areas under the jurisdiction of the port.
Inspections will be focused on substandard vessels, which will be checked more often, while the burden will be alleviated with regard to quality vessels. As ultimate measure against substandard ships, whose performance will be inter alia evaluated in relation to the performance of the flag State, the access of these ships to Member States' ports will be indefinitely refused. This indefinite access refusal may be lifted after 36 months and only if certain conditions are fulfilled.
The new inspection regime will provide for an equitable share of the overall inspection commitment, while also taking account of specific circumstances through flexibility mechanisms for obligatory inspections. Member States are allowed to miss a small percentage of inspections, namely inspections on 5% of ships with a high risk profile and on 10% of other ships. They must, however, give particular attention to ships that do not often call at ports within the Community. Furthermore, Member States may, in specific circumstances, postpone an inspection for 15 days.
In order to allow for a seamless implementation of the new complex port State control regime, the text as agreed by the Council establishes a transposition period of 36 months, after which the Directive will be applied by all Member States as of the same day.
The European Parliament adopted its first-reading opinion on 25 April 2007 (8724/07, p. 25).
–Liability of passenger shipping in the event of accidents
The Council took note of a progress report on a proposal for a Regulation on the liability of carriers of passengers by sea and inland waterways in the event of accidents(9548/07).
The Commission sent its proposal (6827/06) to the Council in February 2006 as part of its third maritime package.
The draft Regulation is aimed at establishing a Community regime of uniform liability for the carriage of passengers by sea and inland waterways. To this end it incorporates the 2002 Athens Convention relating to the carriage of passengers and their luggage by sea into Community legislation. In addition, the proposal suggests extending the application of the Athens Convention to carriage by sea within the Member States and to international and domestic carriage by inland waterways.
The report prepared by the German Presidency takes stock of discussions in Council's bodies so far and identifies the main outstanding issues that will need to be addressed in the coming months. The further work of the Council's bodies will focus in particular on the delimitation of the scope of the Regulation, the application of international conventions on the global limitation of liability simultaneously to the Athens Convention, the delayed entry into force in relation to carriage by sea within a single Member State and the adaptation of the Regulation in the case of amendments to the Athens Convention and/or the International Maritime Organisation.