Proposal for a Council Decision on the promotion of sustainable and safe mobility (97/C 28/05) (Text with EEA relevance) COM(96) 654 final - 96/0306(SYN)

(Submitted by the Commission on 13 December 1996)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Articles 75, 84 and 129d (3) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee,

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions,

Acting in accordance with the procedure provided for in Article 189c of the Treaty,

Whereas the Commission has explained in its Communication on the future development of the common transport policy (1) how it will establish a framework to guarantee sustainable mobility for people and goods within the single market;

Whereas the European Parliament (2), the Economic and Social Committee (3) and the Council (4) have expressed favourable opinions on the main features of the approach proposed by the Commission;

Whereas the Commission has tabled a Communication on the programme of action (1995 to 2000) for the development of the common transport policy (5);

Whereas this programme envisages measures aimed at:

- developing integrated transport systems on the basis of advanced technologies contributing to environmental, social, energy and safety objectives,

- ensuring and improving the functioning of the single market in order to promote efficiency, choice and a user-friendly provision of transport services while safeguarding social standards,

- developing the external dimension where necessary for improving the quality of transportation links between the European Union and third countries, for guaranteeing access of Community enterprises to transport markets in other parts of the world and for ensuring the proper functioning of the single market;

Whereas the implementation of these objectives requires a wide range of policies and actions such as:

- promotion of intermodality,

- establishment of a trans-European combined transport network, accompanied by organizational measures involving research and development work to develop the best technologies and their applications to the transport systems,

- progressive integration of the trans-European transport network through the coordination of investments, financial incentives, promotion of public-private partnerships and technical convergence,

- development of high-quality public passenger transport of all kinds to establish a citizens' network,

- a regulatory framework to ensure the legal protection of transport users and enforcement to prevent anti-competitive practices which could affect the distribution of transport services,

- identification and evaluation of the environmental impact of transport and the measures to be taken to reduce it,

- definition of technical rules and standards, particularly to improve the interoperability of the transport system, its environmental and energy impact and its safety,

- improvement of transport safety through the appropriate legal and technical framework,

- efficient supervision and adaptation of the rules governing the single market in transport services, including their enforcement,

- availability of relevant and timely information on the functioning of the single market in the transport sector,

- further convergence of the different charging systems for infrastructure and external costs,

- improvement of the working conditions, standard of living and training of workers in the transport sector,

- promotion of agreements with third countries and of international agreements dealing with transport issues;

Whereas, with a view to providing active and tangible support for the promotion of sustainable and safe mobility as advocated by the Community, significant actions must be initiated involving reliance on, and close cooperation with, the principal players, whether at public or private, national, regional or international level;

Whereas the principle of subsidiarity in this sector calls for close cooperation with the players involved, based on the mobilization of the synergies likely to be most effective in achieving the common objectives;

Whereas the actions envisaged either precede or follow on from, or are complementary to, actions financed in the framework of the financial support provided for projects of common interest involving the trans-European transport network or actions financed under the specific programme on transport research,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

This Decision concerns the definition and implementation of the common transport policy and the trans-European transport network with a view to ensuring and encouraging sustainable and safe mobility.

Article 2

The Commission shall be responsible for the implementation of Article 1 and, to this end, may take such measures as it deems necessary, namely:

- systematic gathering, processing and dissemination of information relating to transport activities in the Community and to transport activities involving the Community and third countries,

- involvement in the organization of specialized conferences and seminars by bodies pursuing objectives compatible with those of the Community,

- provision of support, possibly on a regular basis, for analytical work carried out by national or international, public or private organizations, provided that such work contributes effectively and directly to the attainment of the objectives pursued under the common transport policy,

- introduction of incentives and support measures to promote technical harmonization designed to ensure the interoperability of the trans-European transport network and the optimum functioning of the internal transport market,

- support for initiatives seeking to ensure greater effectiveness in the definition, development and promotion of the trans-European transport network vis-à-vis its technical, environmental and financial aspects and its expansion to third countries,

- encouragement of training operations in the transport sector with a specific view to promoting and improving transport safety and respect for the environment,

- technical and financial assessment of measures taken by the Commission or by third countries to promote mobility,

- performance of cost-benefit analyses in respect of actions and projects.

Article 3

1. With a view to implementing these measures, the Commission may:

- conclude contracts with private or public bodies, subject to compliance with the procedures governing public contracts,

- co-finance any project initiated by public or private bodies, whether or not international, up to a maximum of 50 % of the total cost of the project, with no possibility of exceeding this limit except in cases where the exceptional Community scope of the action so warrant it,

- contribute to the operating budgets of public or private international organizations of which it is a member or might become a member, and which operates in the transport sector.

2. Where the nature of the actions and the circumstances so warrant it, appropriate publicity measures shall be taken with a view to calling for proposals and setting out the procedures governing Community contribution to such actions.

3. The extent of the Community's involvement is determined mainly on the basis of:

- the usefulness of the action as a means of achieving the objectives of the common transport policy and the trans-European transport network,

- the Community scope of the action and the extent of the multinational involvement,

- the exemplary or innovative nature of the action and the possibilities for its diffusion and extension across the Community,

- the contribution made by the action to the promotion of cooperation with third countries.

Article 4

Each final payment shall be preceded by a detailed check on the services provided, taking into account the contractual obligations entered into by the beneficiary and the principles of basic economics and sound financial management. Anti-fraud provisions (monitoring of the execution of the contract, periodic reports, financial control measures, etc.) shall be inserted into all contracts concluded between the Commission and third countries.

Article 5

Each year the budgetary authority shall fix the amount of the appropriations allocated for all these actions.

Article 6

Every three years, with effect initially from 2001, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions a report on how these appropriations have been used, together with an evaluation of their contribution towards the achievement of the objectives pursued by the Community.

Article 7

This Decision shall enter into force on 1 January 1998.

(1) COM(92) 494 final, EC Bull. Suppl. 3/93.

(2) EP Resolution on the future development of the common transport policy, OJ No C 44, 14. 2. 1994, p. 53.

(3) OJ No C 352, 30. 12. 1993, p. 11.

(4) Conclusions of the Council adopted on 7 and 8 June 1993.

(5) COM(95) 302 final, 12. 7. 1995.