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2TRAN NEWS / 7April 2016
The meeting started with the Chair, MichaelCramer, leading a minute's silence in memory of thevictims of the attacks at Zaventem airport andMaelbeek/Maalbeek metro station on 22 March.
ADOPTION OF AGREEMENT
Approval of agreement on TechnicalRequirements for inland waterway vessels(rule 73)Rapporteur: Ivo Belet (PPE, BE)Ordinary legislative procedure
The agreement between Parliament andCouncil provides harmonised technicalrequirements to grant navigation certificates forinland waterway vessels. It revises the currentDirective which is based on a dual systemapplicable on the Rhine and the Union's otherinland waterways.
The current technical requirements will bereplaced by a reference to an internationalstandard set out by the European Committeefor drawing up standards in the field of inlandnavigation (CESNI), set up under the auspicesof the Central Commission for Navigation of theRhine.
It should be underlined that the current CESNIstandard encompasses technical specificationsfor vessels using Liquified Natural Gas.
The Rapporteur explained that the key point inthe final discussion had been to safeguard therole of Parliament as co-legislator, in particularin situations that require a revision or update ofthe technical standards.
The agreement was approved with 43 votes infavour, 2 against and 2 abstentions.
Timetable foreseenVote in plenary April I
ADOPTION OF DRAFT REPORTS
Protocol amending the Common AviationArea Agreement between the EU andGeorgia, to take account of the accessionof CroatiaRapporteur: Francisco Assis (S&D, PT)Consent procedure
The Committee recommended that the Plenarygive consent to the conclusion of theAgreement, with 42 votes in favour, 1 againstand 0 abstentions.
Timetable foreseenVote in plenary April I
Protocol amending the Euro-MediterraneanAviation Agreement between the EU andIsrael, to take account of the accession ofCroatiaRapporteur: Francisco Assis (S&D, PT)Consent procedure
The Committee recommended that the Plenarygive consent to the conclusion of theAgreement, with 46 votes in favour, 1 againstand 0 abstentions.
Timetable foreseenVote in plenary April I
3TRAN NEWS / 7April 2016
ADOPTION OF DRAFT OPINION
Social Dumping in the EURapporteur: Jens Nilsson (S&D, SV)Opinion to EMPL, own initiative report
© European Union 2016
The Opinion highlights the need for theCommission and Member States to implementall relevant social legislation covering thetransport sector whilst respecting faircompetition and free movement.
It notes that there is no clear definition of socialdumping in transport and that this term issometimes misused to introduce protectionistmeasures.
It recommends combatting illegal activities,letter box companies and unfair businesspractices to ensure social protection. It alsocalls for increased controls on work and resttimes, improved control devices and smarttachographs.
The Commission is asked to revise thecombined transport directive and to considerthe creation of a European Road TransportAgency to ensure proper implementation of EUlegislation and promote standardisation andcooperation between Member States.
In addition, the Opinion stresses the socialdimension of the recent Commission AviationStrategy for Europe. It calls, in particular, for an
improvement in the Regulation on commonrules for the operation of air services to ensurebinding application of national labourlegislation for airlines with European operationalbases.
In the maritime sector, the Commission is asked:
to ensure full implementation of sociallegislation, including the 2006 MaritimeLabour Convention;
to encourage ships to have the flag of aMember State; and
to promote the recruitment and retentionof skilled European-based seafarers.
The draft opinion was adopted with 34 votes infavour, 6 against, and 7 abstentions.
Timetable foreseenVote in EMPL 19 April 2016Vote in plenary May/June (tbd)
PRESENTATION OF DRAFT OPINIONS
Proposal on the European Border and CoastGuardRapporteur: Marie-Christine Arnautu (ENF, FR)Opinion to LIBE, ordinary legislative procedure
The Rapporteur said that opinion polls showedthat immigration was a priority issue in manyMember States. She also referred to the closureof the Balkan route, the planned referendum inHungary and what she saw as the negativeconsequences of the Schengen agreement.
In her view, FRONTEX, the borders agency,would not resolve the problem simply bychanging the uniforms worn by officials atborders. More guards and more resources wereneeded to prevent people illegally crossingfrontiers. She also considered that clandestinemigrants should be expelled.
4TRAN NEWS / 7April 2016
The Shadow Rapporteurs, and most otherMembers who intervened, rejected thisapproach. The majority stressed the need todistinguish between asylum seekers, whosehuman rights were the same as everyone else,and migrants.
Almost all Members considered that theTransport Committee’s opinion should addresstransport issues and not seek to duplicate thework of the Civil Liberties Committee. Somepointed to the benefits arising from theSchengen Agreement. Others considered thatthe Commission’s proposals threatenedMember State sovereignty.
Timetable foreseenDeadline for amendments 12 April 2016Vote in TRAN Committee 12 May 2016Vote in LIBE 24 May 2016Vote in plenary tbd
Preparation of the post-electoral revision ofthe MFF 2014-2020: Parliament's inputahead of the Commission's proposalRapporteur: Marian-Jean Marinescu (PPE, RO)Opinion to BUDG, own initiative report
The Rapporteur stressed that restoring the fundswhich had been redeployed from theConnected Europe Facility (CEF) to theEuropean Fund for Strategic Investments shouldbe a priority for the Multiannual FinancialFramework (MFF) revision. Moreover, he calledfor redistribution of the money not used bycohesion Member States under the CEF by theend of 2016 and for an adequate allocation offunds to the transport agencies.
In addition, the Rapporteur stressed that theSingle European Sky is the main instrument toensure safety, environmental performance,competitiveness and protection of citizens’rights in the field of aviation.
Members broadly supported the Rapporteurs'suggestions, although not all could endorse thecall to redistribute unused CEF money.
Timetable foreseenDeadline for amendments 19 April 2016Vote in TRAN Committee 24 May 2016Vote in BUDG 16 June 2016Vote in plenary July 2016
CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENTS
Implementation of the UN Convention onthe Rights of Persons with DisabilitiesRapporteur: Davor Škrlec (Greens/EFA, HR)Opinion to EMPL, own initiative report
The amendments tabled for this draft opinionmainly complement and further develop theRapporteur's ideas on accessibility andpersonal mobility issues.
During the discussion, the Members focused on:
improving accessibility for disabledpeople, so they can independentlymeet their own needs, including facilitiesat stations and ports;
door-to-door transportation; access to the 112 emergency line; use of the Connecting Europe Facility
and other EU funds; implementing existing legislation as set
out in the European Disability Strategy;and
awareness-raising and education inschools.
Timetable foreseenVote in TRAN Committee 26 April 2016Vote in EMPL 30 May 2016Vote in plenary tbd
5TRAN NEWS / 7April 2016
NEXT TRAN COMMITTEE MEETING, BRUSSELS
Planned draft agenda - To be confirmed
Monday, 25 April, afternoon: Proposal for Regulation amending
Regulation 1406/2002 establishing aEuropean Maritime and Safety Agency(EMSA) - presentation of draft report/Arnautu;
European Union Strategy for the AlpineRegion - consideration of amendments/Aiuto;
Tuesday, 26 April, morning: Implementation of UN Convention on
the Rights of Persons with Disabilities -vote/Škrlec ;
Exchange of views with EASA ExecutiveDirector, Mr Patrick Ky on the follow-upof MH17 crash;
Presentation by the Commission of StaffWorking Document on rail freight noisereduction - SWD(2015)0300;
Tourism Task Force - Presentation ofTourism for Growth and Jobs Manifesto -Exchange of views with stakeholders/Ujhelyi;
Tuesday, 26 April, afternoon: Public Hearing on Road Transport in the
era of new technologies, including PolicyDepartment Study presentation on self-piloted cars
Meeting room: P1A002
TRAN COMMITTEE MEETINGS 2016, BRUSSELS
Monday, 23 May, 15h00-18h30Tuesday, 24 May, 9h00-12h30Tuesday, 24 May, 15h00-18h30
Wednesday, 15 June, 9h00-12h30Wednesday, 15 June, 15h00-18h30Thursday, 16 June, 9h00-12h30
Monday, 11 July, 15h00-18h30Tuesday, 12 July, 9h00-12h30Tuesday, 12 July, 15h00-18h30
Thursday, 1 September, 9h00-12h30Thursday, 1 September, 15h00-18h30
Monday, 26 September, 15h00-18h30
Monday, 10 October, 15h00-18h30Tuesday, 11 October, 9h00-12h30Tuesday, 11 October, 15h00-18h30
Wednesday, 9 November, 9h00-12h30Wednesday, 9 November, 15h00-18h30Thursday, 10 November, 9h00-12h30
Monday, 5 December, 15h00-18h30
2TRAN NEWS / 7April 2016
USEFUL LINKS
TRAN website:http://www.europarl.europa.eu/TRAN
Policy Department Publication in the European Parliament:http://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/en/supporting-analyses.html
European Aviation Safety Agency newsletters:http://easa.europa.eu/communications/general-publications.php
European Railway Agency newsletters:http://www.era.europa.eu/Communication/Newsletter
European Maritime Safety Agency newsletters:http://www.emsa.europa.eu/news-a-press-centre/newsletters.html
SESAR Joint Undertaking newshttp://www.sesarju.eu/newsroom/all-news
Innovation& Networks Executive Agency:http://ec.europa.eu/inea/en
DG MOVE newsletter:http://ec.europa.eu/transport/newsletter
Netherlands Presidency of the Council:http://english.eu2016.nl/
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