Transport, Telecommunications, Energy: a packed agenda

Over three days, the EU's Transport, Telecommunications and Energy (TTE) Council met in Luxembourg for the last time under the Irish presidency. Each day was devoted to a particular area - telecommunications on Thursday 6, energy on Friday 7 and transport on Monday 10.

Pat Rabbitte, Irish Minister for Communications,
Energy and Natural Resources
© European Union 2013 

In addition to taking stock and sharing their views on several proposals, ministers held a debate on the role of the telecommunications and ICT sectors. They also adopted conclusions on the internal energy market and reached "general approaches", i.e. political agreements pending the position of the European Parliament, on several legislative proposals such as the recast of the 2008 directive on the interoperability of the EU rail system.

Telecommunications

Against the backdrop of the Digital Agenda for Europe and the October meeting of the European Council, which is expected to focus on innovation and on the digital agenda, ministers held a debate on the role of the telecommunications and ICT sectors and discussed what the main features of a single EU telecommunications market should be.

They also held an exchange of views on a proposed directive aimed at ensuring a high common level of security for electronic communications networks and information systems across the Union.

In addition, ministers took note of the state of play on several legislative proposals:

• a regulation aimed at enabling secure electronic transactions across the EU
• two regulations on digital infrastructure and services
• a directive aimed at harmonising member states' rules on the accessibility of public sector bodies' websites.

Council press release (pdf)
Press conference (6 June)

Energy

Ministers discussed issues relating to the impact of indirect changes of land use on greenhouse gas emissions and a Commission communication on energy technologies and innovation. The latter discussion will feed into the ongoing debate on priorities for research, development and innovation and how to support their implementation.

Moreover, the Council adopted conclusions on a Commission communication on the internal energy market. The conclusions set detailed tasks to be accomplished in order to:

• meet the deadlines set by the European Council
• improve the rights and roles of consumers and
• make the transition to the energy market of the future.

Council press release (pdf)
Press conference (7 June)

Transport

The Council reached a general approach on a recast of the 2008 directive on the interoperability of the EU rail system. The recast is designed to remove remaining administrative and technical barriers to the single railway market.

The general approach provides in particular for a new system for the authorisation of railway vehicles. Vehicles for use in more than one country will have to be authorised by the European Railway Agency (ERA), on the basis of assessments by national safety authorities. As regards authorisations for vehicles used in national traffic only, applicants may choose between the ERA or national authorities.

The new rules should make it possible to cut administrative costs, speed up administrative procedures and increase economies of scale for railway undertakings operating across the EU.

The Council also agreed general approaches on a number of other legislative proposals such as

• two directives which are part of the "roadworthiness package", one of them on ad hoc technical roadside inspections of commercial vehicles, the other on vehicle registration documents
• a revision of the 2003 directive on the reporting of occurrences that could endanger aviation safety
• a revision of the 1998 directive on the rules applicable to marine equipment to be placed on EU ships.

Council press release (pdf)
Press conference (10 June)

See also:

• Council press release (pdf)
• Audiovisual page