Transport and Telecommunications Council
07/06/2012
Vice-President Siim Kallas has welcomed the efforts of the Danish Presidency and the outcome of today's Transport Council in Luxembourg. Ministers reached a partial general approach on the initiative known as the "Connecting Europe Facility". "The establishment of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) is one of the key initiatives of the Commission in the context of the proposed package for delivering sustainable growth and jobs", Mr Kallas said. There was also an agreement on some of the Commission proposals for better airports. There was already an agreement in the Council for groundhandling (on 22 March); today agreement has been reached on noise. Vice-President Kallas: "Transport ministers have been able to reach a general approach on this politically sensitive issue, which is an important step. Decisions on noise restrictions will remain clearly up to Member States, but I am also conscious of the impact of restrictions on the aviation network. So we have to ensure a process which is fair and which respects international rules."
More information:
Danube Strategy: Transport ministers to cooperate on navigability [IP/12/579]
Transport and Telecommunications Council – 7 and 8 June 2012 [MEMO/12/409]
Airport noise: Member States support revision of EU rules [IP/12/582]
Blue belt - cutting red tape for ships in EU waters [SPEECH/12/425]
Contacts :
Helen Kearns (+32 2 298 76 38)
Dale Kidd (+32 2 295 74 61)
