Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the White Paper on European transport policy for 2010 is clearly in favour, and I welcome the fact, of shifting the balance between modes of transport towards rail and waterways. It defines priorities with a view to this shift: moving towards fair charging arrangements and acting to combat bottlenecks and environmental degradation, as well as giving a pivotal role to users. Like all the directives issued in this field, however, it is always the pursuit of liberalisation in all transport sectors that is emphasised, as if this were the only viable solution. Mr Izquierdo Collado’s report provides a series of amendments that should be supported with a view to respecting the environment. He also makes proposals for the harmonisation of fuel taxation and transport charges. With regard to road safety, I think it is good that he calls for the creation of a Road Safety Agency. Since I constantly tried to draw attention to the crucial issue of funding when the directive on rail interoperability was being drawn up, I fully agree with another of Mr Collado’s proposals, that seeking to create a European Transport Fund in order to ensure that the policies proposed are financially viable and credible. As you will have understood, however, I cannot support his backing for the liberalisation processes underway. We are examining directives on rail, air transport, and on nautical and technical services next week, all aiming to liberalise these sectors. We should, of course, support the call for the Commission to assess the consequences of liberalisation, as Mr Collado does. I believe, however, that we should also strengthen public services by modernising them. I believe that public services or services of general interest must be at the heart of the Union’s transport policy and must, as such, be incorporated into future Treaties. I think we genuinely need to shift the balance in transport towards rail, but we still need to make far more progress on the matter of distortion of competition, which remains significant, and, in particular, we should be far more resolute in demanding a reduction in driving time for lorry drivers, which is also a condition for increased safety. My group also considers that the report should be more concerned with social issues. A series of amendments has been tabled by my group, moreover, relating to the key issue of harmonisation of social standards from the top for all modes of transport. Transport naturally also includes maritime transport and, at a time when the Prestige disaster is still at the forefront of our minds, I would like to draw your attention to the amendment tabled by my group inviting the Commission to present a legislative proposal forcing polluters – oil companies, classification companies, ship owners and charterers – to pay for all damage caused by disasters in which they are involved. I would also like to point out that the European Parliament has requested a ban on flags of convenience and I would like the Commission to take swift measures in this regard. For all these reasons, you will understand that my group will wait in order to be able to take account of any progress due to the adoption of amendments before taking up a final position on this report.

Political group: GUE-NGL