No 25.  Weekly. 01 November 2002

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 Radioactive waste management: Commission supports co-ordination of European research

The European Commission launched on 29 October a project to create a network of major radioactive waste management organisations across Europe. This project aims to improve the co-operation on research for disposal of radioactive waste. The project is of significance as it will see seven EU Member States (Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom) and Switzerland working collaboratively in the Net.Excel network. As a result, the participants will enhance the quality of research, and be able to make more efficient and co-ordinated decisions in the field of radioactive waste management. Sharing research in underground laboratories in Europe will be an important component in the project. The network will strengthen EU competence in dealing with the disposal of spent fuel or high level radioactive waste.

France: EIB lends EUR 200 million to SNCF for high-speed rolling stock

The European Investment Bank (EIB) announces a EUR 200 million loan to French national railway company SNCF for purchasing 22 Duplex (double-deck) trainsets intended to cater for the rapid increase in traffic on the high-speed (TGV) rail network. This project represents the first phase of an investment programme to expand SNCF's entire TGV fleet. As well as being much quieter, the 22 Duplex trainsets financed boast a passenger capacity up to 40% higher than standard trains, depending on the layout of seating. They will initially be deployed on the Paris-Mediterranean line (especially the highly congested Paris-Lyons section), thereby freeing existing trainsets for other lines, particularly the EIB-financed TGV Est europeen. 

Commission clears GF-X air freight trading platform between several European airlines

The European Commission has cleared 28 Octobre the proposed creation by Lufthansa, Air France, British Airways and Global Freight Exchange Limited of a joint venture called GF-X Operations Limited. GF-X will provide an electronic business to business (B2B) trading platform, which will facilitate the sale of air freight capacity between air freight forwarders (the buyers) and air freight carriers (the sellers). The Commission's market investigation confirmed that GF-X will be an additional distribution channel for air freight capacity and that there are no concerns that the proposed transaction would lead to the creation or strengthening of a dominant position. Moreover, the joint venture is set up in such a way that it will not lead to any co-ordination of the competitive conduct of the parent companies on the market for air freight transport.

Loyola de Palacio's speech on the new challenges for urban transport

On a comprehensive speech pronounced in Venice on 26 october Vice-president Loyola de Palacio presents how the European Commission sees the challenges that transport, including urban transport, will face over the next decades. She insists on the assessment made and the solutions proposed in the White paper on transport policy that the Commission adopted a year ago. She also explains how the Commission is helping to promote high quality public transport underlines what practical support the Commission offers to help spread best practice in urban transport across Europes.

Rail Transport Statistics: Green light of the EP without amendments

Parliament approved on 24 October the common position by adopting the Report on the Council common position for adopting a European Parliament and Council regulation on rail transport statistics for second reading without amendments.

Trans-European Energy Networks: the Parliament says yes in first reading

MEPs have adopted on 24 October a resolution supporting the new overall directions of the trans-European Energy Networks (TEN-Energy). On the other hand, Parliament is calling for a few changes to the Commission's proposal.

European Commission
Energy and Transport Directorate-General
Information & Communication Unit
B-1049 Brussels
Fax : (32-2) 295.61.18

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The contents of this digest are prepared by officials of the Energy and Transport DG and represent their personal views on the subject matters. These views have not been adopted or in any way approved by the European Commission and should not be relied upon as a statement of the Commission or the Energy and Transport DG.

(c) European Communities, 2002

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