Transport

Green growth and innovation are at the heart of the Europe 2020 strategy. Achieving a sustainable future is a long-term challenge in which transport will play a crucial role. Transport is a key factor for economic growth, as well as for reducing CO2 emissions.

In line with the trio presidency programme and Belgium’s overall intention to organise its presidency in a sustainable manner, greening transport will be the dominant theme in its transport programme. In addition, the Belgian presidency intends to focus on safety, security and innovation.

The European Commission will present its next White Paper on the Future of Transport outlining the European Transport Policy for the next decade at the end of 2010, but the Commission does not intend to put forward binding targets, as was requested by the European Parliament. In addition, the White Paper will include a Strategic Transport Technology Plan.  

The trans-European transport network (TEN-T) will equally be important in the greening of transport, which is why Belgium supports progress on the review of the TEN-T guidelines. Some experts meetings will take place during the Belgian presidency. However, the new proposal from the Commission is not expected to be published before 2011.

Belgium will also promote the development of new technologies to achieve a sustainable transport system, and in this context will continue working on the realization of GALILEO and EGNOS, as well as on the development of intelligent transport systems (ITS).

Another one of Belgium’s transport priorities will be the Eurovignette Directive. Belgium has the ambition to re-start negotiations on this dossier and to move it forward. After the European Commission presented its proposal in the summer 2008, negotiations were stalled in the Council. The so-called ‘internalisation of external costs’ is an important element on the way to a sustainable future of transport. Belgium’s ultimate aim would be to expand this concept to all modes of transport.

With regard to road safety, the focus will be on defining the next Action Plan and its objectives for 2020. In addition, Belgium aims to progress further in the cross-border enforcement of sanctions.

Additionally, the Belgian presidency will organise an informal Transport Council in September in Antwerp on maritime issues. This council will focus on short-sea shipping and inland waterways.

Since April 2010, Regulation 300/2008 on aviation security as well as its implementing provisions, are fully applicable. During the Belgian presidency, issues such as the aviation security charges directive as well as the directive on investigation and prevention of accidents and incidents in civil aviation will be continued. Furthermore, activities with regard to the volcanic ash cloud crisis will be taken forward.

Key Belgian Priorities

• Consolidate the link with new European policy objectives on energy, transport and emissions by e.g. adjusting taxation.

Key Dates

• Informal Transport Council on short sea shipping in Antwerp (15-16 September)
• Conference on mobility and safety during the mobility week (17 September)
• Conference on road safety and action in 27 Member states in Brussels (13-14 October)
• Transport Council in Luxembourg (15 October)
• Aviation Summit in Bruges (focus on Single European Sky) (25-27 October)
• Freight transport in urban areas in Brussels (16-17 November)
• Cars 2010 Project in Brussels (17-18 November)
• Transport Council in Brussels   (2 September)