COUNCIL RESOLUTION of 24 October 1994 on telematics in the transport sector (94/C 309/01)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Whereas telematics systems should increasingly be used in the field of transport in so far as they are cost-efficient, particularly in the trans-European transport network, using the results of the work on the information society; whereas this should enhance the safety, efficiency and environmental compatibility of transport;

Whereas one task of Community policy in particular is to achieve a convergence or standardization, where appropriate, of technical systems to make them compatible and interoperable between Member States so that they can as far as possible be used by road users and operators throughout Europe;

Whereas the variety of technical systems at present available on the market offers solutions at reasonable costs; whereas it is expected that an important impetus will be provided to private sector led initiatives for the creation of European information infrastructures;

TAKES NOTE of the Commission communication 'Satellite navigation services: a European approach' and the proposals in the European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) resolution of 26 and 27 May 1994 on the use of new information technology in the transport sector (1),

AGREES that action in the following areas is of major importance:

- progress towards the introduction of interoperable automatic road traffic information and warning systems in Member States at European level,

- standardization of testing criteria as well as of the assessment and approval procedures for in-vehicle information display in road transport,

- guarantee of compatibility and interoperability of systems for data exchange between vehicle and infrastructure in road transport,

- harmonization of the data bases for the Europe-wide utilization of digital road maps,

- binding acceptance of the standards formulated by Eurocontrol under the conditions defined in Council Directive 93/65/EEC of 19 July 1993 on the definition and use of compatible technical specifications for the procurement of air-traffic-management equipment and systems (2),

- introduction of a Community vessel movement reporting system for ships carrying dangerous or environmentally-hazardous goods on the basis of electronic data exchange systems,

- further development of the information and communication systems for computerized data exchange between the authorities responsible for port State control,

- implementation and improvement of the electronic data interchange for administration, commerce and transport (Edifact) for the compatibility of information and communication systems and for automatic transport control,

CONFIRMS that the introduction of compatible telematics systems should also be advanced in rail transport,

REQUESTS the Commission and the Member States:

(a) to exercise their influence on the European railways for the introduction of a European command and control system,

(b) jointly to select trans-European cross-border axes in road and rail transport on which currently available telematics systems should be optimally applied; on road transport, in particular, jointly to define standard evaluation methods to test and interoperability at European level of road information services and data exchange systems in accordance with the orientations precribed in this resolution;

(c) as a matter of urgency to discuss the Commission communication on satellite navigation services and to submit recommendations as soon as possible,

INVITES the Commission:

(a) to draw up a programme for the measures required at Community level for the implementation of telematics in the transport sector (action programme);

(b) to support the work of standardization in air traffic management by means of all suitable measures, including research and development in this respect;

(c) to advance the necessary work and to submit proposals which are in conformity with the principles of proportionality and subsidiarity and do not create more bureaucracy.

Done at Luxembourg, 24 October 1994.

For the Council

The President

J. BORCHERT

(1) CEMT/CM(94) 19, p. 26.

(2) OJ No L 187, 29. 7. 1993, p. 52.