Transport in the EU

News and information about the European Union's transport policies.

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European driving licence — 17 January 2013, 16:13 CET

An estimated 60% of the Union’s population holds a valid driving licence, meaning 300 million citizens. Improving road safety is one of the main objectives of driving licence legislation. Moreover the recognition of driving licences facilitates free movement of citizens. The implementation of a single model throughout the European Union is seen as ensuring greater security.

New European driving licence hits the road from Saturday — 17 January 2013, 16:15 CET

A new European driving licence first agreed seven years ago by EU governments, finally takes to the roads across the continent on Saturday, says the Commission.

European car sector hits 17-year low, Renault cuts jobs — 16 January 2013, 13:05 CET

European auto sales plunged to the lowest point for 17 years in 2012, trade data shows, revealing the dire state of the sector despite the global strength of German car makers.

Slovak car sector posts record output in 2012 — 11 January 2013, 18:48 CET

Slovakia's auto sector posted record output of 900,000 vehicles in 2012, despite gloom in the European Union -- its key export market, the Slovak automotive industry association said Friday.

EU moves to end state rail monopolies — 10 January 2013, 17:50 CET

In proposals likely to infuriate Germany, the Commission will this month urge an end to Europe's last rail monopolies and so open the lucrative passenger market to competition from 2019.

Tallinn first EU capital to give residents a free ride — 10 January 2013, 16:25 CET

Tallinn has become the first capital city in the European Union to give its residents a free ride on public transport.

South Korean Kia posts record 2012 production in Slovakia — 10 January 2013, 14:18 CET

South Korean car maker Kia Motors said on Thursday that it had raised output by 15 percent at its Slovak plant last year, assembling 292,000 cars despite a gloomy outlook for the European Union -- its key export market.

Armenia eases visa rules for EU countries — 10 January 2013, 13:41 CET

Armenia on Thursday lifted visa requirements for EU travellers in a bid to build closer ties with the 27-nation bloc and balance Moscow's sway on the ex-Soviet state.

French, US forces detain 12 suspected Somali pirates — 08 January 2013, 21:37 CET

French and US warships on patrol off the Somali coast combined to detain 12 suspected pirates after a merchant vessel reported coming under attack at the weekend, a statement said Tuesday.

Finland asks EU to probe France ship deal — 08 January 2013, 17:41 CET

Finland said Tuesday it has asked the European Commission to shed light on French state subsidies given to shipbuilder STX France to help it clinch a one billion-euro cruise ship order.

Belgium airport fears TNT departure, eyes FedEx deal — 05 January 2013, 12:27 CET

Belgium's Liege airport, one of Europe's busiest freight hubs, hopes to entice US parcel delivery firm FedEx away from Paris airports should Dutch firm TNT Express depart for Germany.

Euro VI - emissions from heavy duty vehicles — 04 January 2013, 17:28 CET

The work of the EU on reducing emissions is in progress for heavy duty vehicles (buses and trucks) with the Euro VI standards. The European Commission's proposal for a regulation on a new norm called Euro VI, aimed at reducing emissions of nitrogen oxides and particulate matters from trucks and buses as of January 2013, was adopted in June 2009. As follow-up to the adoption of the above-mentioned regulation, a first implementing act, gathering the detailed technical aspects needed for certification, like for instance the requirements for the conduction of the tests to be performed at type-approval and during in service conformity, as well as a second implementing act on access to on-board diagnosis systems and repair and maintenance information, have been adopted during 2011. In parallel, a 06 series of amendments to UNECE Regulation 49, carrying over the European Euro VI legislation into the UNECE acquis, has been approved in the January 2012 session of the Working Party on Pollution and Energy (GRPE). This will allow, in the near future, to accept type-approval certificates awarded according to UNECE Regulation 49, as equivalent to certificates based on the European legislation.

2013 sees cleaner trucks and buses across EU — 07 January 2013, 17:52 CET

Under new European Union rules to combat pollution, trucks and buses rolling off assembly lines this year will produce significantly less harmful exhaust fumes.

French shipyard lands billion-euro luxury liner deal — 28 December 2012, 15:53 CET

Officials hailed some rare good news for France's struggling economy on Friday after an ailing shipyard landed a billion-euro contract to build a luxury liner for a US cruise company.

EU clears EUR 1.2 bn for delayed Berlin airport — 19 December 2012, 19:03 CET

The European Commission cleared Wednesday 1.2 billion euros in additional state aid to allow completion of Berlin's long-delayed new airport.

Alcohol causes a quarter of Europe road deaths — 15 December 2012, 11:33 CET

Alcohol abuse is responsible for around a quarter of the 30,000 people who die in road accidents across the European Union every year, the bloc's drugs agency said in a report published on Friday.

European car sales slump yet again in November — 14 December 2012, 11:15 CET

European new car sales fell in November for the 14th consecutive month, losing 10.3 per cent on an annualised basis to 926,486 vehicles, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) said on Friday.

Single European Sky — 04 December 2012, 17:25 CET

Many EU Member States are seriously lagging behind and not yet fully compliant with requirements to make nine Functional Airspace Blocks (FABs) fully operational, for the deadline of 4 December 2012. A critical deadline has been missed for FABs, the regional airspace blocks which are a key element for the ambitious plans to create a single European airspace – tripling European airspace capacity and halving air traffic control costs. The European Commission warned today that it will launch infringement procedures against Member States for all the Functional Airspace Blocks (FABs) which are not yet fully compliant with all legal requirements. It will also present a new package of legislative measures in Spring 2013 to accelerate reforms and ensure the full delivery of a Single European Sky. The EC says inefficiencies caused by Europe's fragmented airspace bring extra costs of close to €5 billion each year. It adds 42 kilometres to the distance of an average flight, forcing aircraft to burn more fuel, generate more emissions, pay more in costly user-charges and suffer greater delays. The United States controls the same amount of airspace, with more traffic, at almost half the cost, it adds.

EU misses cost-cutting 'Single European Sky' deadline — 04 December 2012, 17:34 CET

EU Member States have missed a key deadline in a drive for a safer, cheaper, more climate-friendly "single" European sky, triggering warnings by Brussels of imminent legal action.

New portal on Trans-European Network with dynamic maps — 28 November 2012, 16:24 CET

The European Commission launched on 28 November an online portal allowing citizens and businesses to access up to date information on the advancement of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) through satellite-based dynamic maps, facts, figures and various audio-visual and interactive elements. In practice, it will allow users to see the live development of the TEN-T network in the region of their interest.

New car sales fall 4.8% in EU in October — 16 November 2012, 15:43 CET

New car sales in the European Union fell by 4.8 per cent in October, the 13th consecutive monthly decline, translating into a 7.3 per cent drop for the first 10 months of 2012 compared to last year.

Europe in car industry crisis talks December 10 — 09 November 2012, 14:14 CET

As Europe's once powerful car sector struggles against falling sales, Industry Commissioner Antonio Tajani says ministers will draw up plans by December 10 to save their car makers.

Action plan for the EU automotive industry in 2020 — 08 November 2012, 14:25 CET

The action plan presented by the European Commission on 8 November aims to help strengthening the EU's automotive industry between now and 2020. It builds on the vision for industry competitiveness and sustainability in 2020 and recommendations how to achieve this vision contained in CARS 21 Final Report. The Commission is proposing concrete actions to be taken on issues of emissions, research financing, electro-mobility, road safety, new skills, smart regulation, trade negotiations and international harmonization. The action plan, which comes at a time when the automotive industry is facing particular pressure due to a strong decline of the EU market and structural over-capacity, includes concrete actions to help tackling these difficulties.

EU visa policy — 07 November 2012, 17:03 CET

The border-free Schengen Area cannot function efficiently without a common visa policy which facilitates the entry of legal visitors into the EU, while strengthening internal security. The EU has set up a common visa policy for short stays, i.e. stays up to three months, which is applied through the delivery of so-called "Schengen visas". In 2011, the present 26 Schengen States issued around 12.6 million Schengen visas.

EU looks at easing visas for Russians, Chinese — 07 November 2012, 18:50 CET

With newly-affluent Russians and Chinese queuing up to tour the EU, Brussels has urged European nations to facilitate travel visas to help spur badly-needed economic growth.