Tag: sea freight

MEPs have formally approved the conciliation deal extending the Austrian 'ecopoints' system to the year 2006 (with modifications), but Austria says it might not implement it.

On 3 July, MEPs agreed to accept without amendments the Council's common position on the Marco Polo Programme which promotes transport intermodality. The thresholds for funding projects to reduce pressure on the European road networks are reduced in order to allow funding for smaller innovative projects.

On 11 February, the European Parliament is expected to adopt a report questioning the Transport Council's deal on a transitional system for heavy lorry transit through Austria during 2004-2006. According to the Parliament's Transport Committee, transit restrictions should apply only to three environmentally sensitive Alpine regions, and they should promote environmentally-friendly lorries while phasing out older ones.

On 6 December, the Transport Council reached a political agreement on the Marco Polo programme, a financing instrument aimed at encouraging the modal shift in freight transport.