Transport in the EU

Latest business news about Transport in the European Union.

European Union transport policies aim at fostering clean, safe and efficient travel throughout Europe, underpinning the internal market of goods and the right of citizens to travel freely throughout the EU. European Commission policies promote in particular the combining of different modes of transport - seen as a solution for the future of freight - and sustainable mobility, encouraging technical innovation and a shift towards the least polluting and most energy efficient modes of transport.

FACT SHEETS

European Strategies

• The White Paper - 2001
• The Green Paper - 2007
• Maritime Transport Strategy 2018
• Freight Transport Logistics in Europe

Competition in Transport

• Freedom to supply services, competition, unfair pricing practices and free access to ocean trade

International Dimension

• Development of a Euro-Mediterranean transport network
• 'Open Skies' agreement between Europe and the United States
• Black Sea Synergy

Useful Links

Trans-European Transport Network Executive Agency (TEN-T EA)

Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation

EU Transport Contacts

LATEST NEWS

External Borders Fund (2007-2013) — 03 February 2010, 17:54 CET

As part of the general programme “Solidarity and management of migration flows”, Decision No 574/2007/EC establishes the External Borders Fund (EBF) for the period 2007-13 with resources totalling €1820 million.

EU anti-piracy force welcomes China interest — 02 February 2010, 19:17 CET

A commander of the European Union's naval force off Somalia's lawless coast welcomed Tuesday China's interest in playing a greater role in anti-piracy operations there.

Brussels mulls anti-trust moves by BA, American, Iberia airlines — 01 February 2010, 11:23 CET

The EU is considering concessions made by British Airways, American Airlines and Iberia to alleviate competition concerns over their transatlantic tie-up.

Commissioner slams airport body scanners — 28 January 2010, 22:39 CET

The nominee to become the EU's top justice official slammed Thursday the quick introduction of body scanners at airports, saying the devices could invade travellers' privacy.

Brussels drops probe into Ryanair Slovakia aid — 27 January 2010, 14:52 CET

European regulators on Wednesday dropped a near two-year probe into state aid offered to Ryanair in Slovakia, saying the Irish low-cost carrier secured "no advantage."

US looks to UN for new airline security standards — 26 January 2010, 23:47 CET

The United States is looking to a low-profile UN agency to help set tough new global airline security standards, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and officials said Tuesday.

Free movement of people within the EU — 21 January 2010, 12:45 CET

Free movement of people is a basic component of the single area which the EU has been building since its inception. It is acknowledged as a fundamental right for EU citizens. Although the principle of free movement was enshrined in the founding treaties, in the first place it did not extend to lifting physical borders but was mainly targeted at the working population until the entry into force of the Amsterdam Treaty in 1999, when the Schengen Convention of 1990 was integrated into the EU legal and institutional framework.

Trade and Imports of Animal Products - personal consignments — 21 January 2010, 12:46 CET

Personal consignments containing meat, milk or their products and brought into the EU continue to present a real threat to animal health throughout the EU. Hence pathogens could be introduced into the EU if personal consignments containing meat, milk or their products are sent by post or carried in the baggage of travellers arriving from countries outside the EU, where such pathogens may be circulating.

EU regulators probe feeder-ship owners — 15 January 2010, 11:31 CET

EU competition regulators have launched a probe into an arrangement between shipowners which they suspect is driving up charter rates for certain kinds of vessels.

Major contracts awarded to make Galileo operational early 2014 - briefing — 07 January 2010, 16:09 CET

The European Commission has announced the award of three of the six contracts for the procurement of Galileo’s initial operational capability. The contract for the system support services is awarded to ThalesAleniaSpace of Italy , that for a first order of 14 satellites to OHB System AG of Germany and that for the launch services to Arianespace of France. This will allow the initial deployment and service provision of Europe’s satellite navigation system as of early 2014.

Tyre labelling: achieving sustainable mobility — 07 January 2010, 17:01 CET

In order to achieve the goals fixed by the EU for sustainable mobility, the European Commission has prepared a Proposal for a Directive to introduce tyre labelling. This aims to provide end-users of vehicles with clear and relevant information about the quality of the tyre, and to guide them towards choosing a product which is more fuel efficient, has better wet braking and is less noisy.

Quality of petrol and diesel fuels: sulphur and lead — 07 January 2010, 17:01 CET

To reduce pollution from car emissions, the EU has introduced new environmental specifications applicable to fuels: a ban on the marketing of leaded petrol and the obligation to make sulphur-free fuels available within the Union.

Polish roads lobby accuses Chinese of dumping — 05 January 2010, 13:57 CET

Poland's motorway constructors have levelled claims of unfair competition against a Chinese group which cracked their country's highways market, a letter obtained by AFP on Tuesday said.

Chinese ship heads to safe port after pirate attack: EU — 28 December 2009, 10:42 CET

A Chinese cargo ship with 25 crew members aboard was heading for a safe port after being released by pirates off the coast of Somalia, the European Union naval force in the region said Monday.

Goods and passengers: admission to the occupation of road transport operator and mutual recognition of diplomas — 25 December 2009, 23:43 CET

This EU Directive harmonises admission to the occupation of road transport operator in national and international transport and to facilitate the effective exercise of the right of establishment of those operators.

Euro MP demands inquiry into Eurostar disruption — 20 December 2009, 15:07 CET

A French MEP who was stuck for six hours under the English Channel in a broken down Eurostar train said Sunday that he would demand an official inquiry into the train operator's "failings".

Second generation Schengen Information System (SIS II) - 1st pillar regulation — 21 December 2009, 20:17 CET

The SIS II Regulation lays down the technical aspects and the operation of the second generation Schengen Information System (SIS II), the conditions for issuing alerts on refusal of entry or stay for non-EU nationals, the processing of data relating to the alerts, and conditions of data access and protection. It constitutes the legislative basis for governing SIS II with respect to matters falling under Title IV of the EC Treaty (first pillar).

Schengen: legal instruments governing migration from SIS1+ to SIS II — 21 December 2009, 20:17 CET

The legal instruments governing migration from SIS 1+ to SIS II lay down the tasks and responsibilities of the European Commission and the Member States for preparing this migration, including further development and testing of SIS II.

Germany slashes troop contribution to EU Bosnia force — 18 December 2009, 18:12 CET

Germany's lower house of parliament voted on Friday to slash the upper limit of troops mandated to operate within the EU-led peacekeeping mission in Bosnia from 2,400 to 900.

Access of vehicle registration services to SIS II — 21 December 2009, 20:15 CET

The second generation Schengen Information System (SIS II) will be a large-scale information system containing alerts on persons and objects in the EU.

'Somali pirates' held by Dutch freed: defence ministry — 17 December 2009, 22:52 CET

A band of suspected Somali pirates captured by the Dutch navy after a failed attack on a cargo ship are to be freed after no country would agree to prosecute them, Dutch officials said Thursday.

EU signs 'open skies' deal with Canada — 17 December 2009, 18:52 CET

The European Union on Thursday signed an 'open skies' deal with Canada liberalising air traffic between the two, the EU Commission said.

Rail workers mount snow-bound Brussels jobs protest — 17 December 2009, 16:52 CET

Hundreds of rail workers marched through heavy Brussels snow on Thursday and threatened a strike in protest at 20 years of free market liberalisation in the rail industry.

EU Recommendations for Passengers — 17 December 2009, 11:40 CET

The EU Top 12 Recommendations for Passengers

Lufthansa squeezes out AUA's small shareholders — 17 December 2009, 11:07 CET

German flag carrier Lufthansa has squeezed out the last remaining shareholders of Austrian Airlines (AUA), paying them 0.50 euros (0.72 dollars) per share, against their will, AUA announced Thursday.