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No 61. Weekly. 05 September 2003 ____ _ |
Green
Paper on Energy
White
Paper
on Transport
Parliament approves EC - China maritime
transport agreement
EP to slow down negotiating air service
agreements
EP welcomes EC's directive on the minimum
level of training of seafarers
Spokesperson's Statement on inspections in cross-Channel transport
services
Spokesperson's Statement on inspections in
Nordic ferry services
Commission acts to break the stranglehold of state railways
on international passenger services
Commission authorises EDF to acquire full control of EDF
Trading
Hungary: EIB
lends EUR 360 million for transport projects
Maritime Safety in the web site of
Energy & Transport DG
Response to Marine pollution and security: new tasks proposed for the European Maritime Safety AgencyThe Commission has adopted on 7 August a proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and the Council(1) to equip the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) with the legal and technical means necessary to operate specialised pollution response ships and equipment for collecting oil and other noxious substances in the sea. The Commission also proposes to widen the EMSA's powers to maritime security and seafarer's qualifications. The expanded jurisdiction of the EMSA would enable it to play a decisive role in the implementation of European legislation in the fields of maritime security and qualifications of seafarers. “In the aftermath of the Erika and Prestige disasters, maritime safety legislation has been drastically improved to guarantee the highest level of environment protection to European shores and waters. The Commission is determined to ensure that these rules are adequately and strictly applied. The widening of the European Maritime Safety Agency's competence is today a key step in this strategy to ensure safety and security of maritime transport." said the Commission's Vice-President Loyola de Palacio.
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Maritime Safety in the web site of
Energy & Transport DG
Maritime Safety: Commission proposes measures to further facilitate the transfer of ships between registers within the Community
The European Commission proposed on 5 August to
update, widen and strengthen existing rules on the transfer of ships
between EU registers. The proposed measure will make it easier for ships
to change from one EU to another EU register. The aim is to contribute to
the European Transport Policy objectives of improving the operating
conditions and competitive position of European shipping whilst continuing
to ensure a high level of ship safety and environmental protection.
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Galileo in the web
site of Energy & Transport DG
Commission proposes the future management structures for GALILEO, the European satellite radionavigation programmeToday the Commission presented on 31 July the future structures for managing the GALILEO programme in its deployment phase (2006-2008) and operational phase (from 2008). Two structures, each with essential public-interest missions, are proposed: a Supervisory Authority and a Centre for Safety and Reliability. The Supervisory Authority will award the concession for deployment and operation of the GALILEO system to a private consortium selected after a call for tenders to be launched in the coming weeks. The Centre for Safety and Reliability, set up under the auspices of the Secretary-General of the Council, will in particular provide the interface between the political authorities and the concession holder in the event of a crisis. As Loyola de Palacio, the Vice-President responsible for Energy and Transport, stressed: "This proposal, eagerly awaited by the Member States and the industry, is fundamental because it establishes the legal and institutional framework for management of the programme from 2006 onwards. I urge the Council and Parliament to examine it without delay".
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Maritime Transport
in the web site of Energy & Transport DG
Parliament approves EC - China maritime transport agreementParliament approved on 2 September this agreement under the consultation procedure. MEPs requested that concerns about the registration of third country flags within the scope of this agreement be evaluated in subsequent renewals.
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International Aviation in the web site of Energy & Transport DG
EP to slow down negotiation of air traffic agreementsThis report debated on 2 September on EU rules governing air services agreements between Member States and third countries was adopted by a large majority. MEPs took the view that, following the judgments of the Court of Justice concerning the open skies agreements concluded between certain Member States and third countries, one clear legal network for bilateral relations was needed. The greater part of Commission proposal on this matter was welcomed, but the general feeling was that the Commission was going too fast. Therefore, an amendment was adopted calling for a three-stage plan which would provide a coordinated, focused approach to the negotiation of Community air service agreements with third countries.
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EP welcomes EC on the minimum level of training of seafarersAccording to
reporter Bernard POIGNANT (PES, F) 47.000 of the 120.000 seafarers sailing
under EU flags are from outside the Community. In adopting this
legislative resolution on 3 September, Parliament warmly welcomed
the Commission proposals to ensure minimum skills of non-Community crews.
The proposals were considered extremely important in the wake of recent
maritime disasters i.e. Erika, the Prestige and the Tricolor. There will
now be a guarantee that non-EU seafarers on board of Community ships are
trained and certified according to minimum international standards.
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Maritime Transport in the web site of Energy & Transport DG
The web site
of Competition DG
Spokesperson's Statement on inspections in cross-Channel transport servicesFollowing press inquires, the European Commission's spokesperson for Competition can confirm that, on 3 September, Commission officials have carried out simultaneous unannounced inspections at the premises of a number of operators of cross-Channel transport services. The officials were assisted by officials of the EU Member States' concerned. The purpose of these inspections is to ascertain whether there is evidence of suspected cartel agreement and related illegal practices concerning fixing of prices and trade conditions for cross-Channel transport services. The purpose is also to ascertain whether there is evidence of suspected market sharing agreements in relation to the provision of ferry services to and from the UK.
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Maritime Transport in the web site of Energy & Transport DG
The web site
of Competition DG
Spokesperson's Statement on inspections in Nordic ferry servicesFollowing press inquires, the European Commission's spokesperson for Competition can confirm that, on 3 September, Commission inspectors assisted by officials from National Competition Authorities carried out simultaneous unannounced inspections at the premises of a number of ferry operators located in Sweden, Denmark and Germany. The purpose of these inspections is to ascertain whether there is evidence of suspected market sharing agreements and related illegal practices aimed at foreclosing competition and preventing access to the Nordic Ferry market.
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Commission acts to break the stranglehold of state railways on international passenger servicesThe European Commission has adopted on 28 August a decision requiring Ferrovie dello Stato (FS), the Italian State-owned railway company, to allow new train operators to provide cross-border passenger services into Italy. The decision finds that FS has prevented Georg Verkehrsorganisation (GVG), a small German railway operator, from providing passenger services from Germany to Milan, by refusing to enter into a so-called international grouping(1), by refusing to discuss terms for access to the track and by refusing to provide traction services. This has deprived rail passengers of the benefits of price competition and customer choice. With a view to settling the case, FS has made substantial commitments, granting GVG access and opening the market for other railway operators too. The decision illustrates the Commission's determination to apply the competition rules as a tool to ensure effective market opening in the EU railway sector.
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Electricity in the web site of Energy & Transport DG
The web site
of Competition DG
Commission authorises EDF to acquire full control of EDF TradingThe European Commission has authorised on 26 August Electricité de France (EDF) to buy Louis Dreyfus's holding in their joint subsidiary EDF Trading. As a result of the transaction, EDF will control 100% of the capital of EDF Trading.
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Commission approves the acquisition of the Italian air and space company Avio by Carlyle and FinmeccanicaThe European Commission has authorised on 19 August the acquisition of Avio (formerly FiatAvio) by the Italian conglomerate Finmeccanica and the US private investment group Carlyle. Carlyle will hold 70% of Avio's share capital and Finmeccanica will hold the remaining 30%. However, Finmeccanica and Carlyle will exercise joint control over Avio
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Commission gives go-ahead to setting-up of Autoroute Ferroviaire Alpine, a joint venture between SNCF and TRENITALIAThe Commission has approved on 4 August the setting-up of a 50/50 joint venture between SNCF and TRENITALIA, the French and Italian rail companies. The joint venture, also known as Autoroute Ferroviaire Alpine, will provide a new rail shuttle service for lorries and semi-trailers through the Fréjus tunnel under Mont Cenis linking France and Italy and intended to ease the traffic congestion caused by lorries and other heavy vehicles on routes crossing the Alps. The investigation carried out by the Commission under its Merger Regulation showed that the setting-up of the joint venture was not such as to create or strengthen a dominant position on the relevant market
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Transeuropean networks in the web site of Energy & Transport DG
The web site of the European
Investments Bank
Hungary: EIB lends EUR 360 million for transport projectsDuring his visit to Budapest on 1 September, the President of the European Investment Bank, Mr Philippe Maystadt, met the Hungarian Prime Minister Mr Peter Medgyessy and Minister of Finance Mr Csaba László to discuss Hungary's integration into the EU and future EIB operations in the country. Mr Maystadt signed two loans with Mr. László totalling EUR 360 million for transport projects.
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CALL FOR TENDERSThis service brings you the latest calls for tender, calls for manifestation of interest and calls for proposal issued by Energy and Transport DG.
Contract notice:
19/08/2003
19/08/2003
19/08/2003
13/08/2003
12/08/2003
09/08/2003
09/08/2003
09/08/2003
09/08/2003
08/08/2003
08/08/2003
01/08/2003
29/07/2003
17/07/2003
O.J. S 135-121105
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 This FREE weekly digest is published by : European
Commission
Legal notice : 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, 2003 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.
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