No 75.  Weekly. 12 December 2003  

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Commission proposes new rules to ensure that all Member States save each year at least 1% more energy

Saving every year 1% more of the energy previously used in each Member State through increased energy efficiency will lead to around 6 % annual energy savings in the year 2012. This is the ambitious goal that the Commission has proposed on 10 December with its new Directive to boost energy efficiency in the Union and promote the market for energy services such as lighting, heating, hot water, ventilation, etc. The proposal sets a framework with common definitions, tools, methodology targets and obligations, both for the public and for the private sectors.

Energy: Commission proposes decisive action on Infrastructure and Security of Supply

The Commission proposed on 10 December a new legislative package to promote investment in the European energy sector to both strengthen competition and help prevent the reoccurrence of the blackouts that took place this summer. In particular, it highlights the major importance of a clear demand management, through the development of a more oriented energy efficiency policy (see IP/03/1697). It also emphasises the need of a clear EU legislative framework for the proper functioning of a competitive internal market for electricity, by safeguarding security of electricity supply and ensuring an adequate level of interconnection between Member States, through general, transparent and non-discriminatory policies. Moreover, the Commission makes further proposals for the Energy Transeuropean networks in electricity and gas, in order to make it more efficient, to link decisively the future new Member States to the Energy Single Market, and to develop a similar approach with neighbouring countries.

Council meeting on Transport: The provisional conclusions

On Friday 05 December 2003 took place the Transport Council with important points in the agenda including ship source polution, the future of Trans-european networks, the allocation of slots in airports, road safety, the Eco-points system or Galileo. In this special edition of the "Energy and Transport in Europe Digest" you will find the PDF version of the provisional conclussions of the council together with links to the European Commission proposals and other related web pages. Vice-President Loyola de Palacio represented the Commission. The agenda of the council included a discussion on the modifications of the regulations instituting the European Maritime Safety Agency, on the proposed Directive on pollution caused by ships and on the proposed Directive on the inter-operability of electronic motorway pricing systems in the Community, on which the Ministers will attempt to define a general stance. The Council was then called upon to express itself, with a view to reaching political agreement, on the Commission proposal for the revision of trans-European transport networks, with particular reference to the list of 29 priority projects, the figure of the European coordinator and the development of the "maritime highways".

One Single sky for the whole EU

The Commission welcomes the agreement reached between the European Parliament and the Council with a view to creating a single European airspace for the benefit of both civil and military users. This agreement, secured on 9 December in Brussels at the end of a conciliation procedure between representatives of the two institutions, covers the whole package of legislation laying down the objectives and operating principles for the single European sky. Loyola de Palacio, Commission Vice-President responsible for energy and transport policy, stated that "These rules will enable the European Community to become the strong regulator which Europe needs if it is to have consistent, efficient measures covering its entire airspace." Following the second reading by Parliament, the essential aim was to finalise the conditions for more integrated management of co-operation between civil and military activities and delimitation of the optimum air traffic control zones. This issue was resolved by highlighting the added-value of a discussing these crucial dimensions at the EU level. Now the agreement reached within the conciliation committee must be ratified by Parliament in a plenary session and by the Council.

EU research drive to reduce air pollution from traffic

The EU signed on 10 December an agreement with the USA, Japan and China to address air pollution from transport. Signed during a conference in Milan, the accord will allow for joint research on emissions and vehicle testing, and it foresees the creation of a common scientific platform to measure and benchmark air pollution from traffic. The joint effort will offer scientific support for the forthcoming international emission requirements for transport, and a basis for the next European standards for passenger cars and Light-Duty Vehicles (EURO V). In Milan, regulatory bodies, industrial stakeholders and scientists from all over the world are meeting to discuss emission measurement and testing systems, emission standards, their effects on human health, and new fuels, engines and after-treatment technologies.

State aid: Commission approves Italian scheme to encourage combined transport

European Commission today authorised an Italian aid scheme(1) which intends to reduce the competitive disadvantages suffered by rail freight and combined transport in comparison with road transport. The objective of the aid scheme is the progressive lessening of the competitive disadvantage suffered by rail freight transport in comparison with road transport. The two transport modes are indeed characterised by a different degree of internalisation of external costs working to the detriment of rail.

Commission authorises French and Italian aid to experimental rolling motorway service between Lyon and Turin

On 10 December the Commission approved aid from France and Italy to an experimental rolling motorway scheme between Aiton and Orbassano on the Lyon-Turin line. This new service will be operated by AFA - Autoroute Ferroviaire Alpine from 2003 to 2006. France and Italy will be allowed to grant financial support of up to 23.5 million euros each to the new rolling motorway service between Aiton and Orbassano over the experimental phase from 2003 to 2006.

European Commission strongly supports the Energy Markets Integration in the Balkans and promotes its connection with the EU

On 8 December was signed in Athens a very important Memorandum of Understanding which aims at integrating the energy markets in the SouthEast Europe and targets its connection with the EU. Loyola de Palacio, vice-president in charge of transport and energy, represented the European Commission. She highlighted the great importance of the setting-up of a regional energy market in South East Europe. “Beyond the technical aspects of the energy market, what has been achieved in South East Europe is momentous” she said. “For the first time, on a regional level, encompassing all countries and states, is being created a regional market with a political function. This is a new very important step of a long process towards a closer co-operation which will ensure peace and stability in this European region” she added.

Electronic toll systems: MEPs considers Commission's proposals too ambitious

A Commission proposal on setting up an EU-wide electronic road toll system comes under fire by the Transport Committee, with Members saying that the introduction of such a service from 2005 for lorries, buses and coaches and from 2010 for cars is too ambitious. This is the position taken by Renate SOMMER (EPP-ED, D) for the Transport Committee. MEPs in the committee call for a European electronic toll system to be introduced on or after 1 January 2007 at the earliest and not two years earlier, as the Commission had proposed. Members argue that the time needed for industry and infrastructure to define and deploy standards-compliant interoperable equipment should be taken into account. The debate will take place on 17 December.

Compensation to air passengers: agreement to be voted in the Parliament

Parliament will vote on a conciliation agreement on compensation to air passengers. The tens of thousands of air travellers who each year face delayed or cancelled flights or are denied boarding as a result of overbooking will be pleased to hear that the Parliament-Council Conciliation Committee reached agreement on financial compensation and assistance to passengers who fall victim to such situations. Vote will take place on 17 December.

Safety of motor vehicles: Parliament should approve the Commission's proposals without amendment, says report

MEPs will vote on 16 December two first reading draft resolutions drawn up by Paolo COSTA (ELDR, I) for the Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism Committee on proposals from the European Commission to require the fitting of safety belts in all motor vehicles. The reports state that Parliament should approve the proposals without amendment.

MEPs will also consider a first reading report from Dieter-Lebrecht KOCH (EPP-ED, D) for the Committee on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism on motor vehicles with regards to the seats, their anchorages and head restraints. Currently, European law requires only passenger cars to be fitted with safety belts. The Commission is now proposing to widen this requirement to minibuses, buses, coaches and trucks. This directive makes some changes in the classification of motor vehicles, which are necessary for the new rules to be enacted.

Agreement on transit system for lorries travelling through Austria

Parliament will be asked to approve a conciliation agreement on transit system through Austria. The European Parliament and Council Delegations to the Conciliation Committee have reached agreement on the ecopoints system (the transit system for lorries travelling through Austria). Key points of the deal are a ban on the most polluting lorries, unrestricted transit for cleaner lorries, the application of the agreement to the entire territory of Austria and the number of transit points to be allocated to the accession countries. It is also agreed that the ecopoints system will expire on 31 December 2006 at the latest. The agreement is vehemently contested by the Austrian MEPs in the delegation, as well as by the Austrian government representatives. The debate will take place on 17 December.

Combined heat and power: Parliament stands firm

The Industry Committee of the European Parliament is sticking to its previous position on the issue of combined heat and power (CHP). In a draft legislative resolution by Norbert GLANTE (PES, D), MEPs in the committee propose to retable many of the first-reading amendments rejected by the Council. The committee's amendments focus on the need for harmonised definitions of CHP, support for small generation plants, and binding targets and timetables to increase use of CHP. The debate will take place on 17 December.

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, 2003

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