2TRAN NEWS / 1 April 2014

APPROVAL OF AGREEMENTS

Deployment of alternative fuels infrastructureRapporteur: Carlo Fidanza (EPP; IT)Ordinary legislative procedure, first reading

The agreement reached details the nationaltargets for the deployment of alternative fuelsinfrastructure that must be set by Member statesas follows:

– Electricity for cars: By the end of 2020, MemberStates must put in place an appropriate numberof recharging points to ensure that electricvehicles can circulate at least in cities andsuburban areas.

– Hydrogen: Member States that decide toinclude hydrogen refuelling points in their nationalpolicy frameworks must ensure that there areenough refuelling stations to allow circulation ofhydrogen powered motor vehicles by 2025 withinthe networks determined by those MemberStates.

– Liquefied natural gas for trucks: LNG refuellingpoints must be installed at least along the TEN-TCore Network by 2025 to enable heavy-dutymotor vehicles to circulate throughout the Union,where there is demand, unless the costs aredisproportionate to the benefits.

– Compressed natural gas: CNG motor vehiclesshould be able to circulate in urban/suburbanagglomerations and other densely populatedareas by 2020 and at least along the TEN-T CoreNetwork by 2025.

– Liquefied natural gas for ships: LNG-poweredships should be able to circulate between the

maritime ports of the TEN-T Core Network by 2025and between the inland ports of the TEN-T CoreNetwork by 2030.

– Electricity for ships: Shore-side electricity supply isto be installed as a priority in ports of the TEN-TCore Network, and in other maritime and inlandports, by the end of 2025, unless there is nodemand and the costs are disproportionate tothe benefits, including environmental benefits.

Thereby, this Directive should put an end to thepresent vicious circle, where the penetration ofvehicles and vessels running on alternative fuels istoo low due to the lack of a sufficient fuel supplyinfrastructure, and vice-versa. Ultimately, theDirective will contribute to the reduction of theUnion's oil dependence, and to the target of a60% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions fromtransport by 2050.

The agreement was endorsed with 28 votes infavour, 2 against and 2 abstentions.

Timetable foreseen

Vote in plenary April II 2014

3TRAN NEWS / 1 April 2014

Maritime spatial planning and integratedcoastal managementRapporteur: Gesine Meissner (ALDE; DE)Ordinary legislative procedure, first reading

According to the agreement, maritime area plansshould be set up and should aim to contribute toa range of objectives, such as promotingmaritime transport, fostering sustainable fisheriesand protecting the environment.

"Motorways of the sea, fisheries and aquaculture,offshore-energy, marine protected areas andgravel dredging, maritime tourism and bluebiotechnology, our seas are already full ofactivities and uses and the demand for space isincreasing further. In order to enable Blue Growthin a coordinated and sustainable way we needmaritime spatial planning in Europe," said theRapporteur.

The plans should be in place in Member States assoon as possible and at the latest by April 2021.

The agreement was endorsed with 26 votes infavour, 4 against and 2 abstentions.

Timetable foreseen

Vote in plenary April II 2014

eCall in-vehicle systemRapporteur: Philippe De Backer (ALDE; BE)Ordinary legislative procedure, first reading

The agreement requires Member States toupgrade existing eCall receiving infrastructure atleast 6 months before the date of application ofthe rules relating to the placing of eCall devices incars. At the latest by 1 October 2017, Member

States must be able to respond to calls from eCalldevices in cars.

"I am happy that we found an agreement so thatMember States will be obliged to update theirinfrastructure to the new eCall system. It is animportant step in the realisation of eCall for allcitizens”, said the Rapporteur. He added that theeCall system would change mobility in a goodway: emergency services would be faster at theplace of the accident so victims would betreated sooner, the safety of everybody on theroad would increase and traffic jams would alsodissolve faster.

Rules for placing eCall devices that automaticallyalert rescue services to car crashes in new modelsof cars and light vans (the other file in the eCallpackage) still have to be negotiated betweenthe Parliament and the Council. Parliament setout its position on these rules in a vote in February2014.

The agreement was endorsed with 23 votes infavour, 7 against and 2 abstentions.

Timetable foreseen

Vote in plenary April II 2014

4TRAN NEWS / 1 April 2014

PRESENTATION OF DRAFT RECOMMENDATION

Noise restrictions at EU airportsRapporteur: Jörg Leichtfried (S&D; AT)Ordinary legislative procedure, second reading

The draft Regulation harmonises and strengthensrules on how authorities take decisions to setoperating restrictions (including bans on nightflights) at EU airports to limit nuisance from aircraftnoise. The rules are based on principles agreed bythe International Civil Aviation Organisation(ICAO), known as the Balanced Approach tonoise management.

At the initiative of the EP, the local authoritieswould retain their powers to decide on noiserelated measures at airports. Moreover, theCommission has been obliged to address health-related aspects of aviation noise by revising theEnvironmental Noise Directive 2002/49/EC.

The Rapporteur recommended approving theagreement reached between the EP, the Counciland the Commission.

Timetable foreseen

Vote in TRAN Committee 10 April 2014

Vote in plenary April II 2014

PRESENTATIONS

Policy Department Study on ‘Impact ofbiofuels on the different transport modes’

Ms Marelli from the Joint Research Centrepresented a balanced and neutral assessment ofthe impact that the production and utilisation ofbiofuels have on security of supply, employment,

greenhouse gas emission savings, crop prices andindirect land use. She also elaborated on thesustainability of production and the differences inperformance of 1st and 2nd generation of biofuels.

Members welcomed the study as verycomprehensive and of good quality andquestioned the JRC about the feasibility and timeneeded to commercialise the 3rd generation ofbiofuels that can be produced for example fromalgae. They were concerned about the high levelof palm oil imports from often unsustainablesources needed to compensate for the domesticproduction of oil-based biofuels and said the EUshould promote research and development ofnew technologies and scale up the production ofsustainable biofuels though appropriatelegislation. In conclusion, Ms Marelli admitted that3rd generation biofuels offers a promising solutionto often unsustainable and very expensivebiofuels currently in use but said that theircommercialisation is still a thing of the future.

5TRAN NEWS / 1 April 2014

Commission Staff Working Document on thestate of play of the implementation of theERTMS Deployment Plan

Mr Onidi, Director DG MOVE, explained theprogress that had been made towards acommon European Rail Traffic ManagementSystem, which is becoming a world-wide standardwith 36 countries outside the EU using it. Heemphasised the importance of strengthening theEuropean Rail Agency's role, through thetechnical pillar of the fourth railway package. Thiswould avoid trains encountering technicalproblems when crossing national borders.

Members expressed concern about the repeatedrevisions to the ERTMS. They also regretted theCouncil's reluctance to give ERA a central role inauthorising trackside and on-board equipment.Mr Onidi explained that the Coordinator, MrVinck, was making progress in addressingbottlenecks in individual countries. Whilstcontinued technical progress should beincorporated in ERTMS, this needed to becombined with backward compatibility so existingsystems could continue to be used. Lastly, he alsoagreed on the importance of strengtheningcoordination through the fourth railway package.

NEXT TRAN COMMITTEE MEETING, BRUSSELS

Provisional agenda:

Thursday 10 April, morning Announcement of Council’s position at 1st reading

on Noise restrictions at EU airports Noise restrictions at EU airports (Draft

recommendation for 2nd reading) - vote

TRAN COMMITTEE MEETINGS 2014, BRUSSELS

Monday, 7 July, 15h00-18h30

Tuesday, 22 July, 9h00-12h30Tuesday, 22 July, 15h00-18h30

Wednesday, 3 September, 9h00-12h30Wednesday, 3 September, 15h00-18h30Thursday, 4 September, 9h00-12h30

Monday, 29 September, 15h00-18h30Tuesday, 30 September, 9h00-12h30Tuesday, 30 September, 15h00-18h30

Monday, 6 October, 15h00-18h30Tuesday, 7 October, 9h00-12h30Tuesday, 7 October, 15h00-18h30

Monday, 3 November, 15h00-18h30Tuesday, 4 November, 9h00-12h30Tuesday, 4 November, 15h00-18h30

Thursday, 20 November, 9h00-12h30

Monday, 1 December, 15h00-18h30Tuesday, 2 December, 9h00-12h30Tuesday, 2 December, 15h00-18h30

6TRAN NEWS / 1 April 2014

USEFUL LINKS

TRAN website:http://www.europarl.europa.eu/activities/committees/homeCom.do?language=EN&body=TRAN

Policy Department Studies in the European Parliament:http://www.europarl.europa.eu/activities/committees/studies/searchPerform.do

European Aviation Safety Agency newsletters:http://easa.europa.eu/communications/general-publications.php

European Railway Agency newsletters:http://www.era.europa.eu/Communication/Newsletter/Pages/home.aspx

European Maritime Safety Agency newsletters:http://emsa.europa.eu/emsa-documents/emsa-publications.html

SESAR Joint Undertaking newshttp://www.sesarju.eu/news-press/news

Trans-European Transport Network Executive Agency newsletters:http://tentea.ec.europa.eu/en/news__events/newsletter/

DG MOVE newsletter:http://ec.europa.eu/transport/newsletter/index_en.htm

Greek Presidency:http://eu2014.gr/

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