The Transport Ministers of the European Union drew up policy lines for developing freight logistics at their Council meeting in Brussels on 12 December. An action programme for logistics will be prepared for the EU in order to improve Europe’s competitiveness in goods transport.
The Council adopted conclusions on freight logistics. The conclusions particularly emphasise the need to remove bottlenecks in transport and to make more use of information technology than at present.
”I am very happy that we were able to make logistics an essential and permanent component of EU transport policy”, said Ms Susanna H u o v i n e n, Finland’s Minister of Transport and Communications, who presided over the Council meeting.
The conclusions point out that well-functioning logistics chains are also better for the environment than inefficient transport operations.
The Council reached a general approach on the directive concerning the fitting of ”blind-spot” mirrors to heavy goods vehicles. The mirrors should be fitted to vehicles registered after 2000. It had already been decided that such mirrors must be fitted to new vehicles. The cost of fitting a mirror on a lorry is about 100–150 euros.
The mirrors will extend drivers’ fields of vision and improve the safety of cyclists and pedestrians in particular. It is estimated that blind-spot mirrors can save around 1,200 lives in Europe by the year 2020.
The Ministers also discussed the future location of the Supervisory Authority for Galileo, the European satellite navigation system. Eleven of the Member States have expressed their interest in hosting the Authority. The matter was not yet ripe for a decision, but the groundwork laid at the Council is expected to facilitate the choice of location.
With regard to the package of legislative measures on maritime safety, a directive improving the control of ships at ports made progress at the meeting. The number of inspections will be increased, and they will focus on vessels that are in bad condition. With regard to Short Sea Shipping, the Council adopted conclusions that emphasise the importance of maritime shipping within the EU.
The Council authorised the European Commission to open negotiations for an agreement with Ukraine in the field of air transport. New approaches will be sought for the somewhat difficult air transport negotiations between the EU and the United States. The Council also heard a report from the Commission on how the removal of Siberian overflight charges will proceed.
Further information:
Mr Reino Lampinen, Deputy Director-General of Transport Policy Department,
tel. +358 50 515 1303
Mr Matti Roine, Director of Traffic Safety Unit , tel. +358 40 823 2109 (Galileo)
Ms Katariina Kivistö, Director of Press and Information, tel. +358 400 502 128
