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Transport in the EU

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

EU aims for safer electric cars 15 June 2010, 23:57 CET
The European Commission proposed today to ensure that electric cars placed on the European market are safe and that consumers are protected against direct contacts with parts of the car under voltage.

Bulgaria and Romania move a step closer to Schengen area 10 June 2010, 23:33 CET
Bulgaria and Romania have moved a step closer to having their border checks with the borderless Schengen area lifted. An EU Council decision that both comply with data security requirements for joining the "Schengen Information System" border control database was approved by the European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee on Thursday.

Annual report, 2009 bathing season 10 June 2010, 16:42 CET
Every summer millions of Europeans head for the beach to enjoy the sun and to cool down in refreshing clean water. To allow Europeans to make an informed choice on which beach to choose a yearly report is published on the quality of coastal and freshwater bathing areas as reported by Member States for the beaches located within their territory. This year the report is being published by the European Environment Agency (EEA), which is also making available on its website maps and tables with detailed information on specific bathing areas. As well as all the 27 Member States of the European Union, this year's report covers for the first time Croatia and Switzerland. The overall quality of bathing waters in the EU has markedly improved since 1990. Compliance with mandatory values (minimum quality requirements) increased over the 1990 to 2008 period from 80% to more than 95% and from 52% to almost 90% in coastal and inland waters respectively. However, from 2008 to 2009 there was a slight deterioration in the number of bathing waters meeting minimum standards both for coastal and inland waters.

EU bathing water policy - briefing 10 June 2010, 16:40 CET
The annual bathing water report presented by the European Commission and the European Environment Agency shows that 96% of coastal bathing areas and 90% of bathing sites in rivers and lakes complied with minimum standards in 2009. It also describes where to obtain detailed and up-to-date information on bathing sites.

EU approves EUR 16m for new Fiat transmission unit 09 June 2010, 17:11 CET
The European Commission has authorised, under EU state aid rules, EUR 16 million of regional investment aid, which the Italian authorities intend to grant to Fiat Powertrain Technologies, a subsidiary of the Fiat Group, for the production of car transmissions in Verrone, Italy.

EU questions Italy, Poland and Germany over safety of inland waterways vessels 04 June 2010, 23:26 CET
The European Commission has yesterday sent reasoned opinions to Italy, Poland and Germany for failing to notify measures for the implementation of EU legislation ensuring technical harmonisation and safety on EU inland waterways.

Euro-MPs back new compensation rights for bus, coach and boat travellers 02 June 2010, 16:56 CET
European bus, coach and boat passengers would have the same compensation rights as air passengers under proposals put forward by the European Parliament's transport committee today.

Revised EU competition rules for the motor vehicle sector - briefing 27 May 2010, 12:22 CET
The European Commission has adopted new competition rules for agreements between vehicle manufacturers and their authorised dealers, repairers and spare parts distributors. The new rules will increase competition in the market for repair and maintenance by improving access to technical information needed for the repairs and by making it easier to use alternative spare parts. They will allow the Commission to tackle manufacturers' abuse of warranties when they request that cars are serviced only in authorised garages. The new rules will also reduce distribution costs for new cars by eliminating overly restrictive rules.

Type-approval of hydrogen-powered motor vehicles - Commission Regulation (EU) No 406/2010 18 May 2010, 18:05 CET
2010/406/EU: Commission Regulation (EU) No 406/2010 of 26 April 2010 implementing Regulation (EC) No 79/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on type-approval of hydrogen-powered motor vehicles (Text with EEA relevance)

Spain tests new border control system for EU 14 May 2010, 23:25 CET
Spain set up a pilot project on Thursday that will help travellers move faster through border crossing points within the European Union, through the use of an automated identification and document verification system, overseen by police officers.

EU steers its way towards intelligent transport systems 10 May 2010, 21:44 CET
A coherent EU-wide framework for interoperable transport systems is the aim of a proposal adopted by EU transport ministers today. Following negotiations with the European Parliament, the European Council today approved a proposal for a directive on the deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) in the field of road transport.

EU to revise competition rules for motor vehicle distribution and repair 07 May 2010, 21:37 CET
On May 26, the European Commission is due to adopt new competition rules for agreements between vehicle manufacturers and their authorised dealers, repairers and spare parts distributors.

Euro-MPs urge standard chargers for electric cars 07 May 2010, 14:03 CET
Standard chargers for electric cars would be a major step towards a single European electric vehicle market, says a resolution adopted by the European Parliament on Thursday.

eCall: Time saved = lives saved 30 April 2010, 12:41 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. Annually, the quicker response will save ± 2,500 lives in the EU. The severity of injuries will be considerably reduced in 15% 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 localisation outside emergencies.

EU updates aviation security rules 29 April 2010, 23:56 CET
New measures to streamline and simplify the EU framework for aviation security, first put in place in 2002 after the September 11 attacks, came into force today.

MEPs want rules on working hours to apply to self-employed drivers 28 April 2010, 23:29 CET
Members of the European Parliament have voted against a Commission proposal that self-employed drivers be exempted from the 2002 Working Time Directive on the road transport industry.

European strategy on clean and energy efficient vehicles 28 April 2010, 18:27 CET
European Commission's website on European strategy on clean and energy efficient vehicles

Clean and energy-efficient vehicles - European strategy for the uptake of green vehicles - briefing 28 April 2010, 18:28 CET
The European strategy for encouraging the development and eventual widespread use of clean and energy efficient vehicles aims to help the European car industry to strengthen its leading role globally basing its production on clean and energy-efficient technologies. This strategy is laid down in an EU Communication, tabled by the European Commission today. It delivers on the consensus between EU Member States and European Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani's commitment to move on from short-term recovery measures to a medium-term orientation that strengthens the competitiveness of the European automotive industry by linking it to clean technologies. The strategy also contributes to the Europe 2020 objectives of smart and sustainable growth. It contains an Action Plan composed of concrete and ambitious measures to be implemented by the Commission.

Volcanic ash cloud crisis: EU response to tackle the impact on air transport 27 April 2010, 14:02 CET
The European Commission has presented a preliminary assessment of the economic consequences for the air transport industry of the volcanic ash crisis. It also outlines a range of possible short-term actions and structural measures to help the air transport industry overcome this unprecedented period. Faced with this crisis, the first priority of the Commission was to intervene to facilitate the opening of airspace under strict safety conditions so that millions of stranded passengers could get home and to ensure that EU passenger rights are fully respected. Now that the situation is normalising, the focus is on a package of short-term and structural measures for the air transport industry.

CASELEX:EU:2008:122 - European Court of Justice, European Union European Administrative Law, Environmental Law, Transport Law 22 April 2010, 16:45 CET
European Court of Justice, European Union European Administrative Law, Environmental Law, Transport Law

The Volcanic Ash Crisis and the EU - briefing 20 April 2010, 23:04 CET
This briefing outlines the European Union's response to the most frequently asked questions concerning the current volcanic ash crisis, notably in relation to the Commission's role in opening up Europe's airspace, while fully respecting safety requirements, to passenger rights and to the economic response for sectors hit by the crisis. While decisions on airspace management are a national competence, faced with a situation which had become unsustainable the Commission intervened to help facilitate European solutions – to maximise available airspace, within strict safety controls. The Commission has worked tirelessly since Friday, 16th April to work with all key actors to open up corridors of European airspace. Progressively opening up airspace holds the key to providing the most immediate relief to stranded passengers and hard hit economic sectors, while ensuring that safety concerns remain paramount.

EUROCONTROL - Supporting European Aviation 15 July 2020, 21:36 CET
EUROCONTROL is an international organisation working to achieve safe and seamless air traffic management across Europe. Founded in 1960, EUROCONTROL currently has 41 member states and is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. Although EUROCONTROL is not an agency of the European Union, the EU has delegated parts of its Single European Sky regulations to EUROCONTROL, making it the central organisation for coordination and planning of air traffic control for all of Europe. The organisation works with national authorities, air navigation service providers, civil and military airspace users, airports, and other organisations. Its activities involve all gate-to-gate air navigation service operations: strategic and tactical flow management, controller training, regional control of airspace, safety-proofed technologies and procedures, and collection of air navigation charges.

Air passenger rights - legislation in force since 2005 15 April 2010, 22:31 CET
The single market for air transport in the Community has greatly benefited passengers: they now enjoy lower fares and a wider choice of carriers and services than in the past. Liberalisation, however, is not enough. Other measures are needed to protect passengers' interests and ensure that they fully profit from the single market.

EU support for European tourism 15 April 2010, 12:43 CET
Commission website on EU support for the tourism sector.Tourism is a key sector of the European economy. The EU tourism industry generates more than 5% of the EU GDP, with about 1,8 million enterprises employing around 5,2% of the total labour force (approximately 9,7 million jobs). When related sectors are taken into account, the estimated contribution of tourism to GDP creation is much higher: tourism indirectly generates more than 10% of the European Union's GDP and provides about 12% of the labour force.

MEPs to vote on a proposal on transport of dangerous goods 08 April 2010, 00:11 CET
MEPs are set to vote on 19 April on a draft report amending the Directive on the transportation of dangerous goods, or transportable pressure equipment.