Est. 1min 20-07-2001 (updated: 07-11-2012 ) Euractiv is part of the Trust Project >>> Languages: Français | DeutschPrint Email Facebook X LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram The Commission presented on Wednesday 18 July its political guidelines for the upcoming White Paper on the future common transport policy. The main objectives of the new EU transport policy will be decoupling of economic growth and transport growth and rebalancing the modes of transport. The Commission defined the following guidelines for its future transport policy: shift of balance between modes of transport through investments in railways, inland waterways, short seashipping (“sea motorways”) and intermodal operations (via a new financial programme ‘Marco Polo”); completion of the Transeuropean Network and removal of rail bottlenecks; effective transport pricing policy via harmonisation of fuels taxation; new Community rules for air transport by 2004; putting users at the heart of the transport system and halving the number of car accident victims by 2010; reinforcing the position of the Community in international organisations such as the International Maritime Organisation and the International Civil Aviation Organisation. Read more with Euractiv Debate started on future of cohesion policyThe informal regional Council reached a "wide ranging consenses" to maintain a strong policy of economic and social cohesion during its first debate on cohesion policy after 2006. The Council debate did not lead to any specific guidelines, but participants welcomed the start of the debate at an early stage as it is considered to be a complex and difficult one. Subscribe now to our newsletter EU Elections Decoded Email Address * Politics Newsletters PositionsIn a first reaction to EURACTIV, Frazer Goodwin of the European Federation for Transport and Environment welcomed some of the elements in the Commission's guidelines, but expressed concern about the lack of stakeholder debate on this important policy issue. "There is a lack of openness and transparency in this debate", said Mr. Goodwin, criticising Commissioner Loyola de Palacio and DG TREN Director General Lamoureux for having no interest in real stakeholder involvement. BackgroundThe EU's current transport policy is facing several challenges: by 2010, freight transport is expected to increase by 38 percent; passenger transport by 24 percent road congestion environmental pressures safety and quality of life problems In order to solve these problems and as a concrete contribution to the sustainable development strategy adopted in Gothenburg, the Commission wanted to present its White Paper on transport before the summer break. However, internal disagreement (mainly between DG Transport and the Secretariat General on the draft proposal led to the Commission holding an orientation debate on this issue before the formal adoption of the White Paper. TimelineThe Commission is expected to formally adopt the White Paper on transport at the beginning of September. Member States will have a first debate on the White Paper during the informal transport and environment council in Leuven/Louvain on 14-16 September.
