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Transport in the EU

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

New EU-US agreement on the transfer of Passenger Name Record (PNR) data - guide 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.

Report on protection of animals during transport 10 November 2011, 17:05 CET
The Commission adopted its report on the impact of Regulation EC 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport on 10 Nov. 2011 showing: Its impact on animal welfare during transport; Impact of the Regulation on trade within the EU; Socio-economic and regional implications; Implementation of the navigation systems; Enforcement of EU rules on animal welfare during transport. The Commission based the report on an external study, an opinion of the European Food Safety Authority, reports from the Food and Veterinary Office and EU countries.

Car prices within the European Union 03 November 2011, 23:08 CET
The car price report, which is based on standardised data provided by vehicle manufacturers, provides manufacturers’ recommended prices for about 80 car models of 27 different brands. Prices are given both excluding and including taxes, together with prices for the major options and right-hand-drive supplements. The report is published once a year. This initiative was launched following numerous complaints from consumers about differences in car prices between Member States and obstacles placed in the way of those consumers that wished to buy in another EU country.

Connecting Europe Facility - CEF Digital 12 October 2022, 23:29 CET
The digital part of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF Digital) will support and catalyse both public and private investments in digital connectivity infrastructures between 2021 and 2027.

New Visa Information System goes live - guide 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).

Benchmark for free allocation to airlines and on the inclusion of aviation in the EU's Emission Trading System (EU ETS) - guide 26 September 2011, 22:55 CET
The European Commission has taken an important step for the aviation industry to join other economic sectors in the fight against climate change. Aviation will become part of the EU's emissions trading system (EU ETS) from 2012. The European Commission has published the benchmark values which will be used to allocate greenhouse gas emission allowances free of charge to more than 900 aircraft operators.

eCall: Time saved = lives saved 07 September 2011, 13:16 CET
In case of a crash, an eCall-equipped car automatically calls the nearest emergency centre. Even if no passenger is able to speak, e.g. due to injuries, a 'Minimum Set of Data' is sent, which includes the exact location of the crash site. Shortly after the accident, emergency services therefore know that there has been an accident, and where exactly. eCall cuts emergency services' response time. It goes down to 50% in the countryside and 60% in built-up areas. The quicker response will save hundreds of lives in the EU every year. The severity of injuries will be considerably reduced in tens of thousands of cases. You can also make an eCall by pushing a button inside the car. Witnessing an accident, you can thus report it and automatically give the precise location. As eCall normally 'sleeps', it does not allow vehicle tracking outside emergencies.

Car price reports 26 July 2011, 19:24 CET
The European Commission has published a six-monthly car price report since 1992. Since May 2007, the report has been published once a year. This initiative was launched following numerous complaints from consumers about differences in car prices between EU Member States and obstacles placed in the way of those consumers that wished to buy in another EU country. The car price report, which is based on standardised data provided by vehicle manufacturers, provides manufacturers' recommended prices for about 80 car models of 27 different brands. Prices are given both excluding and including taxes, together with prices for the major options and right-hand-drive supplements.

Proposal to modify Council Regulation (EEC) No 3821/85 on tachographs - guide 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 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.

Bathing water policy - guide 16 June 2011, 17:14 CET
The quality of bathing water across Europe declined slightly between 2009 and 2010, but the overall quality was still high. More than nine out of 10 bathing water sites now meet the minimum requirements. Cyprus was the star performer, with 100% of its bathing water sites meeting strict guide values, followed by Croatia (97.3%), Malta (95.4%), Greece (94.2%) and Ireland (90.1%). The results are from the annual Bathing Water Report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the European Commission, which compare water quality in more than 21,000 coastal and inland bathing sites across the EU-27. The Commission has also adopted new signs and symbols that will be used to inform the public on bathing water classification and on bathing restrictions.

European Satellite Radio Navigation Programmes Galileo and EGNOS - guide 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.

Facilitating the exchange of rail data - guide 05 May 2011, 17:05 CET
The European Commission has adopted a regulation on standards in the field of telematics applications for rail passenger services. These standards, known to the rail sector as "technical specifications for interoperability" (TSI) relate to the subsystem "telematics applications for passengers" (TAP) of the trans-European rail system and define how stakeholders must interact with travel-related data in the field of rail transport.

Transport 18 April 2011, 00:41 CET
Grants - Calls for proposals in the field of Transport

Trans-European networks 13 January 2013, 18:34 CET
EU grants and loans for Trans-European networks - TEN-T / Transport infrastructure

Tourism 13 January 2013, 18:39 CET
Forthcoming contracts & grants in the field of Tourism

Shifting freight from roads 13 January 2013, 18:42 CET
Shifting freight from roads - EU grants and loans - Marco Polo

Maritime policy 15 January 2013, 21:42 CET
Calls for proposals and tenders in the field of maritime policy

EGNOS: Safety of Life Service Definition Document 12 April 2011, 23:18 CET
The European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) provides an augmentation signal to the Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Positioning Service (SPS). Presently, EGNOS augments GPS by providing correction data and integrity information for improving positioning and navigation services over Europe. The EGNOS Safety of Life (SoL) Service is provided openly and is freely accessible without any direct charge and is tailored to safety-critical transport applications in various domains, in particular for aviation applications.

Communication on the application of Regulation 261/2004 (Air passenger rights) 11 April 2011, 18:41 CET
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the application of Regulation 261/2004 establishing common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding and of cancellation or long delay of flights

SESAR release 2011 09 April 2011, 00:18 CET
The SESAR programme is the operational and technological answer to Europe’s air traffic management challenges. The aim of the SESAR Joint Undertaking (SJU) is to ensure the modernisation of the European air traffic management system by coordinating and concentrating all relevant research and development efforts in the European Union.

Flightpath 2050 - Europe’s Vision for Aviation 30 March 2011, 22:24 CET
The report is a first follow-up to some of the measures regarding aviation that had been put forward in the White Paper on Transport, adopted on 28 March 2011. The vision for 2050 lays out how and where the European research priorities should be set to bring clear EU-added value, so as to preserve EU growth and competitiveness worldwide, whilst meeting market needs as well as energy and environmental challenges. The report was prepared for Commissioners Kallas and Geoghegan-Quinn, responsible for research and innovation, by representatives from the infrastructure, vehicle, operation, fuel and research sectors. The high-level group on aviation and aeronautics research was created in December 2010 and the central message of the report is to promote global leadership of the European industry and a competitive, clean, safe and secure aviation by 2050, with citizens' and society's needs at the heart of the strategy.

Study on the economic effects of Maritime Sptial Planning 30 March 2011, 22:40 CET
Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) is a tool for improved decision-making, providing a framework for arbitrating between competing human activities and managing their impact on the marine environment. Authorities and other stakeholders expect that MSP will bring substantial benefits to maritime economies and the marine environment in Europe. This study aims to provide greater insight into MSP’s economic effects, i.e. the effects of MSP for the maritime economy and stakeholders directly related to the maritime economy.

Fisheries and aquaculture in Europe - February 2011 30 March 2011, 22:50 CET
Fisheries and aquaculture in Europe is a magazine published by the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. The first issue of 2011 features articles on marine data, European organic standards and the Baltic ports Gdansk-Gdynia.

Transport White Paper 2011 - Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area - Towards a competitive and resource efficient transport system 28 March 2011, 16:33 CET
The European Commission adopted a roadmap of 40 concrete initiatives for the next decade to build 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. By 2050, key goals will include: No more conventionally-fuelled cars in cities. 40% use of sustainable low carbon fuels in aviation; at least 40% cut in shipping emissions. A 50% shift of medium distance intercity passenger and freight journeys from road to rail and waterborne transport. All of which will contribute to a 60% cut in transport emissions by the middle of the century.