Transport Guides

Safety of passenger ships - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 24 April 2012, 15:35 CET

EU Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas today set out the European Commission's priorities for passenger ship safety. The keynote speech was delivered at a major passenger ship safety conference in Brussels, hosted by the Commission, to launch a consultation with stakeholders on the priority actions to come.

Passenger Name Record - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 19 April 2012, 15:52 CET

A new agreement on the transfer of EU air passengers' personal data to the US authorities was approved by the European Parliament on Thursday. The deal sets legal conditions and covers issues such as storage periods, use, data protection safeguards and administrative and judicial redress. The agreement will replace a provisional deal in place since 2007.

New way forward for Galileo satellite navigation - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 30 November 2011, 16:59 CET

The European Commission has proposed today the new framework for the financing and governance of the two European satellite navigation programmes Galileo and EGNOS (GPS signal augmentation) for the period 2014-2020.

New EU-US agreement on the transfer of Passenger Name Record (PNR) data - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 21 November 2011, 15:16 CET

The European Commission has initialled an agreement with the US that, if endorsed by the Council and the European Parliament, would replace the existing agreement from 2007 that currently regulates the transfer of Passenger Name Record (PNR) by air carriers to the US. The request to re-negotiate the existing PNR Agreement came from the European Parliament as part of its new role in the post-Lisbon era, and Commissioner Malmström started negotiations in December 2010 after receiving negotiating authorisation from the Council. The new text represents a substantial improvement over the existing 2007 Agreement and Commissioner Malmstrom intends to ask the green light of the Council and the European Parliament to sign it soon.

New Visa Information System goes live - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 13 October 2011, 18:20 CET

The Visa Information System (VIS) started operations as from 08:00 CET today. Visa applications will now be processed much faster thanks to the use of biometrics (fingerprints and a digital facial image) which will facilitate the identification of visa holders and help to avoid identity theft. This new system will allow for a quick and effective exchange of data on short-stay visas among Schengen countries. The VIS will also reinforce the integrity of the system and strengthen trust among its member states. The first consular posts to be connected to the system are those in North Africa (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia).

Proposal to modify Council Regulation (EEC) No 3821/85 on tachographs - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 20 July 2011, 17:08 CET

The European Commission has proposed to revise the tachograph legislation to make full use of new technological opportunities such as satellite positioning. This will make fraud more difficult and reduce the administrative burden, which is expected to save companies €515 million per year. By ensuring better compliance with rules on driving times and rest periods, drivers will be better protected, road safety increased and fair competition assured.

EU crackdown on drivers committing traffic offences abroad - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 06 July 2011, 16:48 CET

Drivers will be punished for traffic offences they commit abroad, including the four "big killers" causing 75% of road fatalities - speeding, breaking traffic lights, failure to use seatbelts and drink driving - following a vote in the European Parliament today.

European Satellite Radio Navigation Programmes Galileo and EGNOS - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 23 May 2011, 20:44 CET

The launch of the first two operational satellites of the EU's global navigation satellite system will take place on 20th October, the European Commission has announced. This is just the first of a series of launches due to take off from Europe's Space Port in Kourou, French Guiana. The launch of the Galileo satellites at an altitude of 23.600km will lead to the provision of initial satellite navigation services in 2014. Successive launches will complete the constellation by 2019.

Transport 2050: key measures - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 28 March 2011, 16:44 CET

The European Commission adopted a comprehensive strategy (Transport 2050) for a competitive transport system that will increase mobility, remove major barriers in key areas and fuel growth and employment. At the same time, the proposals will dramatically reduce Europe's dependence on imported oil and cut carbon emissions in transport by 60% by 2050.

EU proposal for passenger data to fight serious crime and terrorism - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 02 February 2011, 18:50 CET

The European Commission has presented a proposal for an EU Passenger Name Record (PNR) Directive to fight serious crime and terrorism. The proposal obliges air carriers to provide EU Member States with data on passengers entering or departing from the EU, whilst guaranteeing a high level of protection of privacy and personal data.

Rights for passengers travelling by bus and coach - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 02 December 2010, 13:44 CET

The European Parliament and Council, after a successful conciliation procedure, have agreed on the rights of passengers travelling by bus and coach. A set of basic rights including non-discrimination, adequate information to passengers, in particular those with reduced mobility will apply to all passengers. Additional rights (assistance, accommodation, compensation, etc.) will be granted to passengers travelling long distances (more than 250 km).

New rights for passengers travelling by water - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 25 November 2010, 23:26 CET

The European Parliament and the Council have given their signature to a regulation that will enable passengers travelling by sea and by inland waterways to enjoy the same rights wherever they travel in the European Union. Among these rights is the right to information or compensation in the case of delay or cancellation of a journey. In addition, the new rules also offer people with a disability or reduced mobility protection when travelling over water. The new regulation will complement existing rights for air and rail passengers.

Review of the Directive on charging Heavy Goods Vehicles - "Eurovignette Directive - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 14 October 2010, 15:39 CET

The "Eurovignette" Directive on charging heavy goods vehicles for the use of infrastructure was originally adopted in 1999. It provides a framework for the levying of road charges on heavy goods vehicles for using the roads that are part of the trans-European network.

Substantial improvements of motorcycle functional safety and emission performance - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 05 October 2010, 13:21 CET

The European Commission has proposed the mandatory fitting of advanced braking systems on new motorcycles and automatic headlamp-on switching for all L-category vehicles. This category covers a wide range of vehicles such as two- or three-wheel powered cycles, mopeds, motorcycles with and without a side-car, tricycles, on-road quads and mini-cars. The proposal sets also ambitious emission requirements for these vehicles. In addition by introducing enhanced market surveillance requirements, a level playing field will be created for all L-category vehicle manufacturers in a sector where presence of non-compliant products may cause significant safety risks and environmental threats. At the same time it is proposed to radically simplify the current legislative set of 15 Directives by replacing them with just 5 Regulations.

Second stage EU-US "Open Skies" agreement and existing first stage air services agreement - briefing by EUbusiness — last modified 25 March 2010, 20:15 CET

On 25 March, after eight rounds of negotiations, negotiators reached preliminary agreement on a 'second stage' air services accord. The agreement builds on the 2007 EU-US Open Skies Agreement, increasing regulatory co-operation, and removing barriers to market access that have been holding back the development of the world’s most important aviation markets.

Use of mobile phones on ships in European waters - briefing by EUbusiness — last modified 19 March 2010, 23:20 CET

The European Commission has adopted new rules to make it easier for passengers and crew on ships in the EU's territorial waters to make mobile phone calls or send and receive text messages when they are out of range of land-based mobile phone networks. The new rules harmonise the technical and legal conditions for on-board communication services and pave the way for innovative applications, such as remote monitoring of containers stored on-board. This brings new legal certainty and economic opportunities, for service providers who want to offer seamless maritime mobile connectivity across borders.

External Borders Fund (2007-2013) by Ina Dimireva — last modified 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.

Major contracts awarded to make Galileo operational early 2014 - briefing by EUbusiness — last modified 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 by Ina Dimireva — last modified 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 by Ina Dimireva — last modified 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.