The transport and communications ministers of the European Union meet in Luxembourg 11 - 12 June 2015. Minister of Transport and Communications Anne Berner is taking part in the meeting.
On matters of transport, the Presidency-holder Latvia is giving the ministers a situation report on the handling of the issue of market share in the fourth railway package. The goal of the Commission is to increase the market share of rail transport especially in internal passenger transport in the EU. No decisions will be made this time on the market share. Instead, the handling of the open proposals will continue during Luxembourg's Presidency in the autumn of 2015.
Latvia will also give a situation assessment on the processing of a proposal for a regulation on the rights of air passengers
With respect to transport issues, the only matter to be decided is a proposed directive on technical requirements for inland waterway transport, on which an overall view of the Council will be sought. This directive is planned primarily for the conditions of inland waterway transport in Central Europe, and it is important for Finland to stay outside of its scope of application. This negotiation goal has already been achieved.
Development of a digital internal market
With respect to telecommunications, the primary goal is to continue negotiations on a proposed regulation for the single market for telecommunications. The proposal covers net neutrality and roaming charges. Finland's condition for approving the proposal is that it should be reasonable from the point of view of Finnish net neutrality rules and the domestic mobile communications market. However, no decisions on the matter will be made in the Council.
As a new matter the Commission will bring into the debate a strategy proposal for the EU's digital single market. Finland feels that the promotion of the digital single market is important, and emphasises that the starting point of legislative measures must be the promotion of the digital economy. Regulation must not slow the development of the digital economy.
Also before the Council are proposals for a common network and data security directive for the EU and a directive on accessibility of public sector websites. An additional goal is to get an overall view of a programme on the interoperability of electronic services and data systems among member states.
A matter to be decided at the meeting involves the conclusions of the Council on moving the stewardship of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority, IANA to the worldwide multi-stakeholder community. Finland supports the moving of activities and supports the development, internationalisation, and increased transparency of organisations responsible for the technical coordination of the internet.
Further information Ms Veera Kojo, Senior Officer for Legal Affairs, tel. +358 295 34 2382 (transport matters)
Ms Laura Vilkkonen, Director of Unit, tel. +358 295 34 2391 (communications matters)
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