A4-0246/98

Resolution on the Commission communication on a Community strategy and framework for the deployment of road transport telematics in Europe and proposals for initial actions (COM(97)0223 - C4-0239/97)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission communication (COM(97)0223 - C4-0239/97),

- having regard to Council Decision 94/801/EC of 23 November 1994 adopting a specific programme for research and technological development, including demonstration, in the field of telematics applications of common interest (1994-1998) ((OJ L 334, 22.12.1994, p. 1.)), and Council Decision 94/914/EC of 15 December 1994 adopting a specific programme for research and technological development, including demonstration, in the field of transport (1994-1998) ((OJ L 361, 31.12.1994, p. 56.)),

- having regard to the Council resolution of 24 October 1994 on telematics in the transport sector ((OJ C 309, 5.11.1994, p. 1.)), and to its own resolution of 29 June 1995 on the Commission communication on telematics applications for transport (C4-0226/94) ((OJ C 183, 17.7.1995, p. 30.)),

- having regard to Council Regulation No 2236/95 of 18 September 1995 laying down general rules for the granting of Community financial aid in the field of trans-European networks ((OJ L 228, 23.9.1995, p. 1.)),

- having regard to the Council resolution of 28 September 1995 on the deployment of telematics in the road sector ((OJ C 264, 11.10.1995, p. 1.)),

- having regard to the Council resolution of 17 June 1997 ((OJ C 194, 25.6.1997, p. 5.)) and the conclusions of the Council of 17 June 1997,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Transport and Tourism and the opinion of the Committee on Research, Technological Development and Energy (A4-0246/98),

A. whereas telematics applications are strategically crucial for the development of a safe and sustainable transport policy, for the development of information services and, therefore, for economic growth in a properly balanced and technologically advanced European Union,

B. whereas the impact of telematics applications in the road transport sector is likely to prove decisive for the implementation of the principle of safe and sustainable mobility, provided a multimodal approach is taken, and to meet the needs of better traffic management,

C. whereas technological progress in this field makes it essential to fine-tune research activity and to implement swiftly technologies that are ready for use,

D. whereas due account must be taken of existing investment when implementing future developments of the Community strategy for telematics applications in road transport and the associated harmonisation and standardisation process,

E. whereas it is essential to strike a fair balance between the requirements of productive industry, market prospects and the protection of the fundamental interests of users and European citizens,

F. whereas the adoption of the fifth framework programme for research and the new Regulation on the Community financing of the trans-European networks will provide an opportunity for a partial reform of Community expenditure in the fields concerned,

G. whereas, from the vantage point of the new financial perspective, it would be desirable to create suitable links between the development of road transport and intermodal telematics and regional and environmental policy,

H. whereas the Commission¨s dynamising and coordinating role needs to be backed up by a more substantial contribution from the Member States with a view to greater use of telematics in the Community¨s road transport network in urban areas and on sensitive routes, as well as on board vehicles,

1. Welcomes the Commission¨s submission of a communication specifically on road transport telematics; is aware that the rapid evolution of technology in this sector is impelling the Commission to keep in step by means of new legislative proposals and the requisite financial adjustments;

2. Has no objection to the identification of five areas in the proposed strategy; considers, however, that the scope of the Commission¨s priorities should be extended without delay to goods transport, and that there should be clearer specification of the place of public transport, particularly to increase the intermodal capacity of road transport and help to form intermodal transport chains by means of telematics applications covering the various modes of transport; regrets in this connection that such important fields for the use of telematics as the management of goods transport, the management, operation and control of urban traffic or information and control before and during a journey are only listed in the Commission programme under 'other¨ applications;

3. Welcomes the adoption of an agreement in this area; considers it essential, however, as a matter of urgency, to implement the system for the collection, exchange and dissemination of information on traffic, taking account of European multilingualism, with a view to ensuring the highest possible degree of complementarity with other advanced technologies in the field of satellite and digital applications;

4. Considers it vital to take due account of the principle of the 'cost of non-telematics¨ and to endeavour to derive all possible benefit from road transport telematics applications, which can make a major contribution in the context of the information society to raising the quality of life by reducing congestion and pollution from vehicles¨ gas emissions, improving road safety and encouraging the development of coordinated multi- and intermodal transport;

5. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to encourage investment in the lifelong training of workers so as to enhance the competitiveness of the EU¨s industries and services related to road transport telematics and provide a back-up to the process of creating new jobs in high-technology sectors; considers it essential to involve the social partners, local authorities and educational institutions with a view to the Union-wide promotion of a culture of openness to the new transport-related telematics technologies and their applications in such areas as information services for citizens/travellers;

6. Notes that, given the pace of technological progress, the protection of the Union¨s competitiveness must be ensured by giving priority to research; urges the Commission, therefore, to continue its support for research into road transport telematics applications, and believes that funding for this area must be increased within the specific programmes under the fifth research framework programme;

7. Calls on the Commission to take steps to encourage the deployment across Europe of demonstrably effective road transport telematics systems for safety, such as road sign incident detection and warning systems using variable message signs (VMS);

8. Welcomes the results obtained by the 'Euro-regional¨ projects, which cover a large part of the Union¨s territory, and, in particular, cross-border regions, with their high rates of traffic; considers that the experimental phase has been developed sufficiently to justify the definitive implementation of telematics applications in the regions concerned; calls on the Commission and the Council to ensure that the operational phase will begin by the year 2001;

9. Calls on each of the Member States, accordingly, to supply the name, as soon as possible, of an official responsible for traffic information management, with a view to laying the foundations of an effective and fruitful exchange of information and reports between Member States on the basis of inter-operable national or cross-border European telematics services; calls on the Council to add this to its list of its priorities and ensure its successful application as rapidly as possible;

10. Calls on the Commission to provide the Member States with the guidelines and the administrative and financial assistance required for starting on the operational phase of the 'Euro-regional¨ projects for traffic information management;

11. Considers it essential to ensure a fair and proportionate balance in the location of traffic management units, reflecting the volume of traffic, throughout the Union; calls expressly on the Member States and the Commission to encourage the financing of telematics applications in the peripheral regions and in urban areas covered by the Structural Funds¨ objectives, and under the budget headings for the trans-European networks;

12. Calls on the Member States and local authorities, following EU guidelines, to implement telematics in their various transport systems in a manner compatible with other Member States, releasing the necessary funds and creating the requisite legal bases;

13. Calls on the Council to examine all the implications of information exchange and traffic control at EU and cross-border level, including the implications for law and order, and to take action to ensure that legal obstacles do not block the operations of intelligent systems and private services within the Union;

14. Calls on the Commission to require that proper evaluation of traffic safety is carried out, where relevant, in European-funded R& D projects and in implementation of RTT, such as on the trans-European road networks;

15. Urges the Commission to take action in the area of electronic fee collection, on the basis of a strategy aimed at achieving interoperability without unreasonable expenditure on structural adaptation at EU level; suggests, therefore, using the already-existing, most widely utilised systems, with the aim of harmonising them; is aware that practice in this area varies between Member States and that harmonisation will not be an easy task;

16. Considers it essential, given the European industry's position which has to be defended, to undertake, as a matter of urgency, coherent action to standardise telematics applications; advocates, in particular, the following:

a) updating of the CEN TC 278 working programme on road transport, with reference to the fields set out by the Community in its communication (COM(97)0223), as well as in the areas of goods transport, public transport and the carriage of dangerous goods;

b) increased representation for European interests in the ISO;

c) more responsible participation by European industry in the processes of standardisation, on the basis of the principles of transparency and fair competition; the Commission should monitor the whole standardisation process, provide greater financial and technical assistance for the implementation of the strategy, and keep Parliament and the Council regularly informed on progress;

17. Notes the progress achieved as regards the relationship between the user and telematic instruments (the human/machine interface (HMI)); urges the Commission to continue along the lines set out in its communication, with priority for initiatives aimed at increasing driver safety and ergonomic comfort;

18. Welcomes the achievement to date in preparing the European Statement of Principles on Human Machine Interface for In-Vehicle Information and Communication Systems; urges the Commission to prepare a set of guidelines on appropriate procedures to be adopted in the development and testing of new products for ensuring compliance with the Statement of Principles; urges the Commission to consider the introduction of a proposal for mandatory compliance with the Statement of Principles;

19. Calls on the Commission to continue giving priority to initiatives aimed at increasing driver safety and ergonomic comfort by carrying out research in FP5 to identify the link between levels of performance in HMI and their effects in terms of traffic safety, with a view to eventually creating standards for in-vehicle HMI based on performance criteria;

20. Supports, in relation to on-board telematics applications, the visual display of information and vehicle control devices, the Commission¨s intention to give absolute priority to safety; calls on the Commission to lay down binding minimum standards, recalling that harmonisation measures must not run counter to the requirements of safety; urges the Commission, in addition, to encourage multilingualism in the development of the relevant applications;

21. Calls on the industry to develop an on-board telematics system that indicates and encourages minimal energy consumption in relation to external influences and driving style;

22. Calls for a framework for legislative and other initiatives at EU, national and local level to give priority to safety and ergonomics in vehicle design, with the involvement of the industry, the public authorities and the users and with particular regard to more vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, cyclists, motor-cyclists and persons with disabilities;

23. Calls on the Commission to submit, where necessary, proposals for regulations to ensure that vehicles are compulsorily equipped with safety devices that are technologically speaking ready for use, and to draw up those proposals in cooperation with the road safety authorities of the Member States and in consultation with the industry and the relevant consumers¨ associations;

24. Calls on the Commission to draw up a working programme with a view to ensuring that the right to mobility is a reality, to include public authorities, service providers and operators who are indirectly concerned, such as insurers; calls for the application, by the Commission and the Member States, of the principle of free and universal access to a set of basic services enabling equal opportunity of use and enjoyment for all the Union¨s citizens, to cover, at least, the following areas:

- emergency situations;

- traffic congestion;

- dangerous goods;

- meteorological conditions;

25. Considers it essential to contribute to the achievement of safe and sustainable mobility by employing the whole range of telematic applications, including, for instance, the extension of road pricing to sensitive routes, urban and industrial areas with high volumes of traffic and protected natural areas;

26. Points out that merely using telematics to increase efficiency and capacity, without adding suitable back-up measures, will create the risk of evenly distributing traffic over 24 hours and ultimately exposing people and the environment to a constant and relatively high volume of traffic; suitable measures need taking to prevent this undesirable outcome;

27. Calls for input from private operators, including SMUs, in relation to the creation of information services for road users (before they set out and during their journeys), on the basis of due recognition of the major role of tourism promotion and leisure activities, as 'sunrise¨ economic sectors with job-creating potential;

28. Calls on the Commission to ensure the privacy of data held on members of the public in the wake of the growth of the information society, and to examine means of ensuring the implementation of this principle throughout the EU;

29. Calls on the Commission and the Member States, with a view to dealing with international competition and ensuring a balanced development of the economy and employment, to pay greater attention and devote more funding to telematics applications for transport systems in the context of the new financial Regulation for the trans-European networks and under the fifth R & D framework programme;

30. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Committee of the Regions, and the governments and parliaments of the Member States.