News from Europe
EU and US sign an agreement on interoperability between GALILEO and GPS
After more than 4 years of intensive talks, the European Union and the United States concluded an agreement on GALILEO and GPS on 26 June. The agreement confirms GALILEO and GPS will be fully compatible and interoperable, making GALILEO the de facto world standard of open signals in the GNSS mass market. All users of
New environmental impact assessment rules for major public projects
The Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive, adopted by the European Parliament and Council of Ministers in 2001, entered into force on 21st July 2004. This Directive asks for public authorities at national and local levels to carry out an environmental assessment of plans and programmes, including transport projects, which are likely to have a significant
The European Railway Agency starts its work
The European Railway Agency (ERA), set up by Regulation 881/2004, held its first meeting on 15th July. The Agency brings together representatives of the 25 Member States, the European Commission, and the actors involved (railway companies, infrastructure managers, railway industry, staff representatives, passenger organisations and railway freight customers). ERA will be responsible for achieving greater
New Transport Committee in the European Parliament
Following the elections for the European Parliament which took place last June, 20 Parliamentary Committees in which the Euro MPs prepare the work of the plenary assembly have been set up in July. The former Committee on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism has been split. The new Committee on Transport and Tourism (abreviation: TRAN), which
New European transport research program
The European Road Transport Research Advisory Council (ERTRAC) exposed its strategic research program, underlining the importance of mobility improvement and reduction of noise and pollution. In the field of individual mobility, the research program aims at providing the relevant solutions to satisfy the expected 32% growth in demand by 2020. Focus will be made on
The European Commission proposes a new Directive to ensure that Member States save each year at least 1% more energy
The Commission released in December a draft Directive aiming to boost the cost-effective and efficient energy use in the EU. The proposal sets a framework with common definitions, tools, methodology targets and obligations, both for the public and for the private sectors. The Directive sets a target of energy saving of 1% per year, that
The European Commission proposes new rules to increase the legal certainty of services of general economic interest
Following the Altmark judgement of the European Court of Justice in July 2003 (see EMTA News n° 14), and the Green Paper on Services of General Interest, the Commission (DG Competition) has started consultations to set out clear criteria for the assessment of compensations paid by Member States to undertakings providing services of general interest.
From the second to the third “Rail Package”
The second railway package, that aims to accelerate the opening to competition of the rail freight markets in Europe (see EMTA News n° 13) was still being debated by the Conciliation Committee between the Council of Ministers of Transport and the European Parliament as this issue of EMTA News went to press. The Ministers and
Towards a European strategy for sustainable urban environment
The European Commission adopted on 11 January a Communication (COM(2004)60) setting out its ideas for the Thematic Strategy on the Urban Environment due in summer 2005. In this document, that is being submitted to a widespread consultation, the Communication sets out the problems and challenges facing Europe’s urban areas, focusing on 4 priority themes :
Directory of public transport in the European Metropolitan Areas
EMTA released in January its first Directory of public transport in the European metropolitan areas. This 100 page document presents some general information about the current issues and stakes of public transport in the European largest cities, as well as a precise description of the organisation, funding, supply and demand of the public transport systems
EMTA Members
