A4-0057/99

Resolution on the follow-up to the Helsinki Conference on a pan-European transport policy

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the 'Prague Declaration' on a pan-European transport policy adopted by the First Pan-European Transport Conference on 31 October 1991,

- having regard to the 'Crete Declaration' on the need for the further development of the pan-European transport policy adopted by the Second Pan-European Transport Conference on 16 March 1994,

- having regard to the 'Helsinki Declaration' - Towards a European wide transport policy - a set of common principles adopted by the Third Pan-European Transport Conference on 25 June 1997 ((See Annex to report.)),

- having regard to its resolutions of:

. 12 June 1992 on action to be taken in respect of an All-European Transport Policy ((OJ C 176, 13.7.1992, p. 257.)),

. 9 February 1993 on further steps towards an all-European Transport Policy - measures following the first European Transport Conference ((OJ C 72, 15.3.1993, p. 51.)),

. 11 March 1994 on further steps towards an all-European transport policy - measures following the first European Transport Conference ((OJ C 91, 28.3.1994, p. 308.)),

. 28 November 1996 on the pan-European transport policy ((OJ C 380, 16.12.1996, p. 77.)),

. 7 October 1998 on the Commission communication to the Council and the European Parliament on 'Connecting the Union's transport infrastructure network to its neighbours - towards a cooperative pan-European transport network policy' ((OJ C 328, 26.10.1998, p. 98.)),

- having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions of 20 November 1997 on 'The pan-European dimension of transport policy' ((OJ C 64, 27.2.1998, p. 67.)),

- having regard to the Economic and Social Committee's own-initiative opinion of 10 September 1998 on the implementation of the Helsinki Declaration - establishing concrete machinery for consulting the economic and social interest groups on the definition of a pan-European transport policy ((OJ C 407, 28.12.1998, p. 100.)),

- having regard to the first TINA Progress Report dated August 1998 on a Common Transport Infrastructure Needs Assessment in the applicant countries,

- having regard to the outcome of the Conference 'Pan-European Transport Policy: prospects and priorities for East-West cooperation¨ in Brussels on 10 December 1998,

- having regard to the Association Agreements with ten Central and Eastern European Countries, Turkey, Malta and Cyprus, the Trade and Cooperation Agreement with Albania and the Partnership and Cooperation Agreements with the Newly Independent States,

- having regard to the Transport Agreements with Slovenia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,

- having regard to the PHARE and TACIS technical assistance programmes of the European Community,

- having regard to the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership and its accompanying MEDA instrument,

- having regard to the negotiations on enlargement which have been opened with ten Central and Eastern European countries and Cyprus,

- having regard to Rule 148 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Transport and Tourism and the opinion of the Committee on External Economic Relations (A4-0057/99),

A. whereas, since the nineties, the European Parliament has played a leading role, in cooperation with the Commission of the European Communities, in the organisation of pan-European transport conferences as a means of promoting a cooperative pan-European transport policy,

B. whereas the three pan-European Transport Conferences (1991 in Prague, 1994 in Crete and 1997 in Helsinki) have contributed to the development of the basic elements of a pan-European transport policy framework,

C. whereas the Helsinki Declaration adopted a set of common principles and a number of objectives to be achieved, the overall objective being 'to promote sustainable, efficient transport systems which meet the economic, social, environmental and safety needs of European citizens, help reduce regional disparities and enable European business to compete effectively in world markets',

D. whereas the Helsinki Declaration also adopted several 'means', set out in section IV, to achieve its objectives; whereas the Declaration invited all participants to monitor implementation of these means and to evaluate periodically the degree of achievement of the agreed objectives; whereas such monitoring and evaluation procedures represent a major challenge for all the participants in the Conference,

E. whereas the present accession negotiations represent the most extensive enlargement ever, with huge implications for the European continent,

F. aware that the success of enlargement depends largely on the establishment of safe, coherent, efficient and environmentally-friendly transport links between all the Member States of the enlarged Union and on the subsequent development of an integrated multimodal transport network to allow sustainable, speedy and cost-effective transport services across the enlarged Union,

G. whereas the potential investment costs in the ten applicant countries of Central and Eastern Europe for upgrading roads and railways to European Union standards and to meet the expected growth in traffic have been estimated at between EURO 50 billion and EURO 90 billion over 15 years, with no account being taken of any new links,

H. whereas the Helsinki Declaration endorsed the development of infrastructure at pan-European level on the basis of the trans-European transport network in the territory of the European Union Member States, its future extension to the acceding countries, of ten pan-European transport corridors and of four pan-European transport areas,

I. whereas the Helsinki Declaration and the Commission's communication on connecting the Union's transport infrastructure network to its neighbours (COM(97) 172 final) have proposed a cooperative pan-European transport network strategy and the concept of pan-European partnerships bringing together all parties concerned for the development and coordination of the networks,

J. aware that the financial requirements for pan-European infrastructure imply a concerted effort and rational coordination of the various actors (governments, Commission, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, European Conference of Ministers of Transport, Corridor Steering Committee, Transport Infrastructure Needs Assessment Group, the G-24 Transport Working Party, the financial institutions and the private sector),

K. whereas the Commission has presented a proposal for a Regulation on an instrument for structural policies for pre-accession (ISPA) for applicant countries, which amounts to EUR 1 billion per year directed to the transport and environment spheres,

L. aware that the 'acquis communautaire' in the transport field represents nearly 10% of all the European Union legislation that the applicant countries have to incorporate into their legislation,

M. whereas the Helsinki Conference provided an opportunity for representatives from the European transport industry and the social partners to present their views,

1. Stresses the role of a pan-European transport policy as a unique opportunity to seek Europe wide solutions to the transport problems of the continent; takes the view that the major challenges facing the European Union, such as enlargement, the 'Agenda 2000' reforms and the environment strategy, provide the opportunity for the Member States and the EU institutions to demonstrate their commitment to implementing a pan-European sustainable transport policy;

2. Welcomes their efforts and encourages the governments and parliaments of all European countries, the European Union institutions, the intergovernmental organisations, the two sides of the transport industry and the financial institutions to work in close cooperation towards a sustainable pan-European transport policy;

3. Draws attention to the fact that the accession negotiations which have begun with ten Central and Eastern European countries and Cyprus must not neglect the fact that the Newly Independent States and the countries around the Mediterranean Basin must also be integrated into the objectives of a pan-European strategy for sustainable mobility;

4. Stands firmly by the objectives, principles and means adopted by the Helsinki Declaration as the basis for further progress towards an integrated pan-European transport policy;

5. Considers that the ten pan-European transport corridors and the four pan-European Transport Areas (PETRAS) endorsed by the Helsinki Declaration should be regarded as the basis for the development of a pan-European transport infrastructure; considers, nevertheless, that the time has come to bring forward proposals for an integrated multimodal pan-European transport network and, in this connection, calls on the Commission to bring the Transport Infrastructure Needs Assessment (TINA) process to a swift conclusion and to present such proposals;

6. Calls on both the Commission and the Council to act as a catalyst to create the political will required to establish pan-European partnerships for the development and coordination of transport networks at pan-European level;

7. Calls on the Commission to undertake an assessment of the implementation in the European Union and in the Member States of the findings of the Third Pan-European Transport Conference, held from 23 to 25 June 1997 in Helsinki, and to draw conclusions from that assessment and to inform Parliament and the Council thereof;

8. Calls on the Commission, within the framework of Article 21 of Decision No 1692/96/EC, which provides for the ongoing revision and adaptation of the TEN guidelines at five-yearly intervals, to take account of the forthcoming accession of new Member States and to provide for the extension of the network;

9. Acknowledges that the Helsinki Declaration asks the European Union, the European Conference of Ministers of Transport and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, as well as partners in multimodal and regional initiatives to ensure effective implementation of the results of the Helsinki Conference; calls on the Commission, in cooperation with above mentioned organisations, therefore, to present proposals seeking to ensure coordination and transparency of the monitoring of the 'means' set out in the Declaration as well as mechanisms to evaluate periodically the degree of achievement of the objectives agreed in Helsinki;

10. Takes the view that the integration of the applicant countries into the single transport market must bear in mind that, unless implementation and enforcement structures are established, the transposition of the European Union transport legislation into national legislation, as well as the opening up of the applicant countries' markets might not produce the desired effects;

11. Calls on the countries in the pan-European area to review the procedures and arrangements for the customs clearance of passengers and goods at frontiers and, where necessary, to take the measures required to ensure that customs clearance at frontiers is carried out rapidly, smoothly and efficiently;

12. Considers that the process of progressive integration of the applicant countries into the single market should begin as soon as possible in order to allow market adjustments in the applicant countries to be progressively introduced;

13. Calls on future Transport Council presidencies to plan at least one joint Council meeting with Transport Ministers of the applicant countries every six months so as to take stock of progress and focus on the practical difficulties affecting transport integration;

14. Calls on the Commission to review the extent to which, and at what remove, regional and expert conferences on individual modes of transport might serve the further development of a pan-European transport policy and to inform Parliament and the Council of its findings;

15. Believes that in dealing with the Helsinki follow-up issue, appropriate involvement of non-governmental interests (industry, employers, associations and trade unions, environmental NGOs) should be ensured; considers that an active partnership among the main actors in transport policy and the creation of proper structures is the best way to further develop pan-European transport policy;

16. Endorses the proposal from the Economic and Social Committee that participation and structured dialogue among the socio-economic interest groups be integrated into pan-European cooperation on transport policy;

17. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions, the European Conference of Ministers of Transport, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the governments and parliaments of the countries present at the Helsinki Conference.