Transport Guides

Up one level

Sunscreen products - EU guide by EUbusiness — last modified 16 July 2008, 10:30 CET

As the holiday season gets underway, the European Commission is alerting consumers to a new sunscreen labelling regime which gives consumers clear information to make informed choices about the products they chose for themselves and their families. Sunscreen products protect from UV radiation and can be effective in preventing sun-burn and skin cancer. Consumers should therefore use sunscreens and clearer labelling should help consumers to make informed choices. The Commission is also seeking to remind consumers that there are several reasons why sunscreen products should be only one out of a number of measures to protect from the UV radiation of the sun. See information, facts and figures and pictograms below.

Greening Transport Package - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 08 July 2008, 18:51 CET

The European Commission put forward on 8 July 2008 a package of new "Greening Transport" initiatives to steer transport towards sustainability. First, a strategy to ensure that the prices of transport better reflect their real cost to society, so that environmental damage and congestion can gradually be reduced in a way that boosts the efficiency of transport and ultimately the economy as a whole. Second, a proposal to enable EU Member States to help make this happen through more efficient and greener road tolls for lorries, with the revenue to be used to reduce environmental impacts from transport and cut congestion. Third, a communication to reduce noise from rail freight. The package also includes an inventory of existing EU measures on greening transport and a communication on the additional greening transport initiatives that this Commission will take before the end of 2009.

EP vote on including aviation in EU Emissions Trading System - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 08 July 2008, 17:02 CET

The European Parliament voted at second reading in favour of including aviation in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). The vote confirms the agreement reached between the Parliament and the Council last month. Under the new directive greenhouse gas emissions from flights to, from and within the EU will be included in the EU ETS from 2012. All airlines will be covered whatever their nationality. Like the industrial companies already covered by the EU ETS, airlines will be able to sell surplus allowances if they reduce their emissions and will need to buy additional allowances if their emissions grow.

Single European Sky II - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 25 June 2008, 15:40 CET

The European Commission adopted on 25 June the second package of legislation for a Single European Sky (SES II). These proposals aim to further improve safety, cut costs and reduce delays. That will in turn mean lower fuel consumption, so that airlines could save up to 16 million tons of CO2 emissions and cut their annual cost by between two and three billion euros. This full reform of the European air traffic management system will be key to managing the doubling of traffic expected by 2020. Not only airline passengers, but also freight forwarders and military and private aviation will benefit. The package will create additional jobs in aviation. Meanwhile, European manufacturing industry will gain from being at the forefront of innovation in air traffic management technology (i.e. satellite based systems - Galileo, datalink, etc.), thus giving it a competitive edge on global markets.

European Maritime Day - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 18 May 2009, 11:21 CET

The sea has played a key role in Europe's prosperity. The European continent has almost 70,000 km of coastline and 22 of the EU’s 27 Member States are coastal or island countries. Europe's maritime regions are home to 40% of our population, generate 40% of its economy and employ some 5 million people. For all these reasons, 20 May is a dedicated "European Maritime Day" in the EU. This year, in cooperation with the Italian government, the Commission is organising a 3-day conference in Rome from 18 to 20 May. This event brings together stakeholders, administrations and other players from the European Union and this time also from a number of third countries, in particular from the Mediterranean region, to discuss the global challenges faced by maritime Europe today. European Maritime Day was set up as one of the key actions of the EU's Integrated Maritime Policy, launched in 2007.

Airline Ticket selling website - EU Enforcement Results - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 08 May 2008, 13:54 CET

The European Commission today published the mid term report on an EU wide enforcement investigation - involving 15 EU national authorities as well as Norway – against misleading advertising and unfair practices on airline ticket selling websites. The report shows that there are "serious and persistent consumer problems" throughout the airline industry as a whole. 1 in 3 websites surveyed (137 out of 386 originally checked by the 13 reporting countries) have had to be followed up with enforcement action over the last 7 months for breaches of EU consumer law. Over 50% of those websites have been corrected during this time.

US Visa Waiver Program - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 18 April 2008, 14:55 CET

The EU Council on 18 April authorised the European Commission to open negotiations on an agreement between the European Community and the United States of America regarding certain conditions for access to the United States' Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

Loan Guarantee Instrument for Trans-European Transport Network Projects - background by EUbusiness — last modified 11 January 2008, 15:54 CET

The European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) on 11 January 2008 signed a Cooperation Agreement establishing the Loan Guarantee Instrument for trans-European transport network projects (LGTT). This new instrument will facilitate greater participation of the private sector in the financing of transport infrastructure of European significance, especially for investments in TENs projects where there is a high level of revenue risk in the early operational period of a project. The LGTT, which forms part of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) programme and the EIB's Action for Growth initiative, will partially cover this risk and thereby significantly improve the financial viability of TENs investments. The capital contribution of EUR 1 billion (EUR 500 million each from the Commission and the EIB) is intended to support up to EUR 20 billion of total capital investment.

Schengen enlargement : background by EUbusiness — last modified 21 December 2007, 01:00 CET

On 14th June 1985, the Governments of Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands signed an agreement at Schengen, a small town in Luxembourg, with a view to enabling "all nationals of the Member States to cross internal borders freely" and to enable the "free circulation of goods and services".

Proposed EU regulation to reduce CO2 emissions from cars by EUbusiness — last modified 19 December 2007, 16:04 CET

The European Commission on 19 December 2007 proposed legislation to reduce the average CO2 emissions of new passenger cars to 120 grams per kilometre by 2012. The proposed legislation is the cornerstone of the EU's strategy to improve the fuel economy of cars, which account for about 12% of the European Union's carbon emissions. The proposal further underlines the EU's leadership and determination to deliver on its greenhouse gas commitments under the Kyoto Protocol and beyond.

Single Market air transport legislation by EUbusiness — last modified 30 November 2007, 23:13 CET

The Council of the European Union and the European Parliament on 30 November 2007 agreed on the proposal to modernise the Single Market legislation for air transport. The new legislation foresees in particular to impose price transparency, to better control the airlines for more safety and quality for the passengers.

Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T): new EC funding proposals by EUbusiness — last modified 21 November 2007, 19:10 CET

The European Commission has tabled its proposals for funding TEN-T projects for the period 2007-2013. In selecting the projects, the Commission has given priority to cross-border projects and environmentally friendly modes such as inland waterways and rail. Following the publication of four calls for proposals, the Commission received 221 project proposals. The support requested (more than EUR 11.5 billion) largely exceeded the available Community budget of EUR 5.1 billion.

Airline ticket selling websites - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 14 November 2007, 15:33 CET

The European Commission on 14 November 2007 announced the results of an EU wide investigation - involving 15 EU national authorities as well as Norway – against misleading advertising and unfair practices on airline ticket selling websites. The clampdown covers Europe's leading airlines, low cost carriers as well as other websites selling airline tickets. The results of the inquiry show that over 50% of all websites showed irregularities, in particular relating to price indications, contract terms and clarity of proposed conditions. In the week of 24-28 September, in the first ever EU joint enforcement action on consumer rights (co-ordinated by the European Commission), national enforcement authorities in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and also Norway scrutinised over 400 web sites to check their compliance with EU consumer law. This sweep check is followed by an enforcement phase when companies are contacted by authorities and asked to correct websites or clarify their position. EU Consumer Commissioner Meglena Kuneva warned that she is giving companies four months to respond. As well as facing possible legal action, she will not hesitate to name and shame companies who fail to take action to bring sites in line with EU law once that deadline expires.

Freight transport in Europe by EUbusiness — last modified 18 October 2007, 16:42 CET

The European Commission on 18 October 2007 adopted a series of initiatives aimed at making freight transport in the EU more efficient and sustainable. This new package of measures consists of proposals concerning logistics, a rail network giving priority to freight, and European ports, as well as two documents on the barrier-free European maritime transport area and the motorways of the sea. The simultaneous adoption of all these measures gives a strong signal demonstrating the close links between logistics and the various modes of transport. The common objective of these initiatives is to promote innovative infrastructure technologies and practices, develop means of transport, improve freight management, facilitate the construction of freight transport chains, simplify administrative procedures and enhance quality throughout the logistic chain.

Revision of the EU Financial Framework 2007-2013 - Q&A by EUbusiness — last modified 19 September 2007, 15:03 CET

The European Commission on 19 September adopted a Communication to ensure that the European satellite radionavigation programmes (EGNOS and Galileo) continue, together with an amended Regulation on the funding of the programmes. The proposal provides for the deployment phase of Galileo to be funded entirely from the Community budget to ensure that the project continues.

Antitrust: Draft Guidelines for maritime transport - frequently asked questions by EUbusiness — last modified 13 September 2007, 22:35 CET

The European Commission on 13 September 2007 launched a public consultation on draft Guidelines on the application of EU competition rules to the maritime transport sector. The consultation is an interim step in the preparation of the Guidelines, due to be finalised in 2008. The draft Guidelines follow the repeal of the block exemption for liner shipping conferences and the extension of the scope of the competition implementing rules to cabotage and tramp shipping services (Regulation 1/2003) decided by the Competitiveness Council on 25th September 2006.

Confiscation of duty free liquids at EU airports - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 31 July 2007, 12:48 CET

The European Commission adopted on 31 July 2007 a regulation to address the disruption faced by air passengers who arrive from third countries carrying duty free liquids bought abroad and who wish to transfer at an EU airport. At present, any quantity of liquid bought outside the EU that is greater than the limited amounts currently permitted in hand-baggage must be abandoned at the EU airport since there is no way of checking that it has been subject to similar security standards as liquids on sale in EU airports. The Regulation will allow the Commission to verify whether equivalent standards are applied in a third country and whether the overall standard of aviation security is satisfactory, thereby allowing liquids bought in duty free shops there to be allowed on aircraft in the EU. This will allow transit passengers arriving from these countries to carry their purchases onto their internal EU flight.

Access to air transport for persons with reduced mobility - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 25 July 2007, 16:07 CET

On 26 July 2007 new rules enter into force to offer disabled and elderly people access to air transport which is comparable to that of any other passengers flying from airports in the European Union.

State aid for airports and start-up aid to airlines - questions & answers by EUbusiness — last modified 10 July 2007, 17:47 CET

In September 2005 the European Commission adopted "Community guidelines on financing of airports and start-up aid to airlines departing from regional airports" (hereinafter the 2005 aviation guidelines). These guidelines were put in place to codify Commission practice and to take account of changes which had taken placed in the European aviation market. The 2005 guidelines reflect the jurisprudence of the "Aeroports de Paris" cases wherein the European Courts have clarified that airport management and operation activities consisting in the provision of airport services to airlines and to the various service providers within airports are economic activities. The guidelines also reflect the competitive situation of the fully liberalised air transport market in place since the completion of the third aviation liberalisation packet in the 1990s.

European Commission prohibition of Ryanair's proposed acquisition of Aer Lingus – frequently asked questions by EUbusiness — last modified 27 June 2007, 12:09 CET

The European Commission on 27 June 2007 prohibited, on the basis of the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed takeover by Ryanair of Aer Lingus. It says the acquisition would have combined the two leading airlines operating from Ireland which currently compete vigorously against each other. The Commission concluded that the merger would have harmed consumers by removing this competition and creating a monopoly or a dominant position on 35 routes operated by both parties. This would have reduced choice and, most likely, led to higher prices for more than 14 million EU passengers using these routes to and from Ireland each year. The Commission's investigation and market test of remedies offered by Ryanair demonstrated that these remedies were inadequate to remove the competition concerns. In particular the limited number of airport "slots" offered was not likely to lead to competition sufficient to replace the competitive pressure currently exercised by each airline on the other. The Commission therefore concluded that the concentration would significantly impede effective competition within the European Economic Area or a substantial part of it.