No 26.  Weekly. 08 November 2002

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 Towards a Community approach to nuclear safety

The European Commission proposed on 6 November an unprecedented package of measures with a view to finally producing a comprehensive, truly Community approach to nuclear safety and security of supply. These proposals cover the safety of nuclear installations during operation and decommissioning, management of radioactive waste, and trade in nuclear materials with Russia. Their objective is to introduce common standards and monitoring mechanisms which will guarantee uniform application of the same safety criteria with legal force throughout the EU. "It is our responsibility to ensure a common approach to nuclear safety and waste management: European citizens would never forgive us for inaction by the EU in this field," Loyola de Palacio, Commission Vice-President responsible for energy and transport, said. "Independent of the energy policy choices made by the Member States, consistent action by the EU in this field is necessary, all the more so with the forthcoming enlargement. The gaps in the Community legislation on nuclear safety must be filled," she added.

Commission proposes to ensure the continuing availability of Euratom loans for nuclear safety and decommissioning projects in candidate and other non-member countries

On behalf of Euratom, the European Commission has agreed on 6 November to ask the Council to increase the borrowing ceiling to cover Euratom lending to eligible projects, notably related to nuclear safety and decommissioning of installations in candidate and other non-member countries. The proposals also require agreement of the Council and the European Parliament. 

Vice Prime-Minister Khristenko and Director-General Lamoureux open the EU-Russia Technology Centre as a platform for the EU-Russia Energy Dialogue

Vice-Prime Minister Victor Khristenko and European Commission Director-General for Energy and Transport François Lamoureux, the sole interlocutors for the EU-Russia Energy Dialogue, opened the EU-Russia Technology Centre in Moscow on Tuesday, 5 November 2002. As noted by M. Lamoureux, "Concrete progress has been made in the dialogue so far, paving the way for a future long-term EU-Russia common energy house."

Open sky agreements : Commission welcomes European Court of Justice ruling

The Commission welcomed today the ruling of the European Court of Justice in the so-called "open skies" cases, which address the legality of bilateral agreements concluded between eight EC Member States and the United States. "Today's judgement is a major step towards developing a new coherent and dynamic European policy for international aviation. In most sectors of the economy, Europe speaks with one voice in international negotiations and takes a leading role in shaping events. Until now, aviation has been excluded from this approach as Member States have pursued their own individual agendas. From now on, it is clear from the Court's ruling that we will all have to work together in Europe to identify and pursue our objectives jointly. The Commission stands ready to play its part" said Loyola de Palacio, Vice-President in charge of transport and energy.

Commission approves German 'on-board' training aid of EUR 4 million in favour of maritime seafarers

The Commission gave the go-ahead on 30 October to a German maritime training aid for 2002, as it has already approved in the past similar German schemes for respectively 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001. The aid regime will help preserve maritime know-how and expertise on board German merchant ships.

Commission closes probe into KLM/NorthWest and Lufthansa/SAS/United Airlines transatlantic air alliances

The European Commission has decided on 29 October to close its investigations into the alliances between KLM and NorthWest, on the one hand, and between Lufthansa, SAS and United Airlines, on the other hand. In the latter case, the airlines successfully addressed concerns about reduced competition on a number of routes between the German airport of Frankfurt and US destinations. In the case of KLM/NorthWest no remedies were held necessary. "I am happy that we were able to bring these investigations to a successful end. Airline alliances generally present benefits for the consumer, but regulators must ensure that they do not result in the elimination of competition on specific routes and we achieved that" European Competition Commissioner, Mario Monti, said.

EP: moves to standardise labour law governing road transportes

The Transport Committee of the European Parliament has adopted on 5 November a report by Helmut MARKOV (EUL/NGL, D) considerably altering the Commission proposal for a regulation to harmonise social legislation on road transportioner. The proposal seeks to clarify, simplify and update the rules and exemptions governing driving time, rest period and breaks. It also introduces a harmonised system of penalties and defines the road transport sectors to be covered by the regulation. The overall aim is to ensure that liberalisation of the road transport industry is counterbalanced by standardised labour legislation. This report under the codecision procedure, first reading, is on the agenda for the January plenary session in Strasbourg.

EP to debate on Commission proposal for new standards for passenger ferries

The Transport Committee will be endorsing on 6 November two Commission proposals designed to improve ferry safety in Europe. In the first draft resolution, Bernard POIGNANT (PES, F) will be supporting a proposal relating to stability standards for vessels operating in international waters. Ferries in Southern Europe are currently covered by the "Solas 90 two-compartment standard", by which a ship must be able to survive without capsizing with two main compartments flooded. But a study has shown that the "significant wave height" can actually be greater in the waters of Southern Europe than in the Baltic. The Commission therefore wants the standards required for international voyages to be those laid down in the Stockholm Agreement already accepted by Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK, where the standards are higher than those of the "Solas 90 Convention". The second proposal will be supported by Carlos RIPOLL Y MARTINEZ DE BEDOYA (EPP-ED, E) which would establish the same stability standards for vessels navigating in European national waters as for "ro-ro" passenger ships in international waters, according to their age and the sea areas in which they operate.

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.

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