Irish Presidency Programme for Transport, Tourism and Sport Contents

Transcription

1 Irish Presidency Programme for Transport, Tourism and Sport Contents Minister s statement... 2 Presidency Programme for Transport, Tourism and Sport... 5 Presidency Calendar... 7 Who s who?

2 MINISTER S STATEMENT The Presidency of the EU Council represents a great opportunity for Ireland to restore its international standing by delivering an efficient and business-like work programme which focuses on the key challenges for the EU: stability, jobs and growth. The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport will play an important role in Ireland s Presidency programme, advancing priorities and dossiers across a variety of Council formations. The main legislative work falls to the Transport Council which I will chair. This Council, which meets twice during the Presidency on 11 March in Brussels and 10 June in Luxembourg, is part of the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council configuration. My colleague at the Department, Minister of State Micheal Ring will chair the Sports Council on 17 May, as part of the wider Education, Youth, Culture and Sports configuration. My Department will also lead on and contribute to work on dossiers which fall under the Competitiveness and Environment Council workstreams. For transport, the over-riding priority for the Presidency will be to promote a safer, more efficient and sustainable transport network for Europe. Ours is the last Trio of Presidencies during the lifetime of the current Commission and Parliament. For that reason, my intention is to stay focused on the business end of the Presidency and to act as a facilitator to achieve agreement on some key dossiers in the transport sector. A key focus of the Irish Presidency across all policy formations will be identifying and advancing legislation that can contribute to creating the conditions for stability, jobs and growth in Europe. A return to growth in the EU is vital to Ireland s economic recovery. Transport policy is critical here. Transport is a key driver of the Single Market and features strongly in both the Single Market Acts 1 and 2. As an island on the periphery of Europe, we are only too aware of the importance of transport links that are fit for purpose. Connectivity is key and in that context, we are hoping to advance the Connecting Europe Facility as far as we can during our six months. This multi-billion euro programme is aimed at targeting investment in the transport, energy and telecoms sectors where it is most needed over the next financial period, 2014 to Agreement on the Multi-Annual Financial Framework is obviously vital here and we look forward to a good outcome on this during our Presidency. We certainly expect to push ahead with negotiations between Council, Commission and the European Parliament on the Transport Guidelines that underpin the CEF early in our Presidency, the so called TEN-T Regulation. Thanks to the great work done under the two previous Presidencies, Council has largely agreed its position on both files. The European Parliament voted at Committee level late in December and this has left the door open for a first reading agreement on TEN-T in the first months of our Presidency. 2

3 Ireland, like many other countries, is not in a position financially to invest in transport at the same levels as before. That does not mean we can t invest in transport, it simply means we need to get smarter about how and where we invest. This is very much at the heart of TENT and CEF where the objective is to target the limited resources available more wisely and where they will add greatest value from a European perspective. The initiative is also about attracting the private sector to play a greater part in delivering key infrastructure investment. In that context, TENT and CEF are very much allied to the stability, jobs and growth theme of Ireland s Presidency. The 4 th Rail Package is a key priority in the Single Market Act 2 and will feature high on our Council agenda. Obviously we must await the Commission proposals here but we expect they will deal with both technical issues such as safety and interoperability, but also more politically sensitive issues such as market access and public service obligations. We hope to make progress on the technical aspects of this file as these are the foundation to overcoming obstacles to achieving a fullyintegrated rail system in Europe. The Airports Package is another priority for us. The three elements of this package (slots allocations, noise reduction and groundhandling services) have been largely agreed from a Council perspective. We await the final verdict of the European Parliament on the Groundhandling element of this package but we stand ready to engage in trialogue negotiations if we see that there is a real appetite for a deal here. Air Passenger Rights is also a dossier which we will happily progress once the Commission finalise their internal deliberations and publish it. We expect these proposals to clarify issues such as the rights of passengers, particularly in cases of flight cancellations, delays and denied boarding. Ireland is an island nation with a strong maritime tradition. I will be very keen to see progress in implementing the Maritime Labour Convention (which provides rights and protection at work for seafarers) and the Marine Equipment Directive (which harmonises standards for equipment on board ships) as well as launching important debates on issues such as Passenger Ship Safety and taking the next step in relation to the Blue Belt initiative which aims to reduce the administrative burdens for short sea shipping within the EU. Ireland has a very strong track record on road safety and we will be anxious to move ahead on the Road Worthiness Package at Council and to look for an agreement with the European Parliament on a new tachograph regulation. I also plan to host a major conference on road safety in Europe in Dublin during our Presidency in order to facilitate an exchange of good practice in relation to this critical issue for European citizens. The conference will take place on 28 March in Dublin Castle. Ireland will also host the 9 th ITS European Congress in the Convention Centre in Dublin from 4 to 7 June where the focus will be on optimizing the benefits of Intelligent Transport Systems across the EU. My colleague, Minister of State Alan Kelly, T.D., will lead our involvement in this conference. 3

4 A final word on our sports priorities which my colleague, Minister of State Michael Ring, T.D, will advance over the next six months. The key objective on the sport agenda will be to make progress on the EU s Work Plan on Sport. The issues here include dual careers for sports people. The Council will consider how to ensure that sportspeople are equipped and educated for life beyond what is typically a short sporting career. A second priority will be to consider the contribution of sport to the economy and identify critical challenges in financing sport, particularly grassroots sport, in a more sustainable way. I will represent the EU at the World Anti-Doping Agency over the next 18 months and in that context, I hope to bring Ireland s experience and strong track record in this area to bear in their deliberations on this vital issue for sport. Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar, T.D. 4

5 PRESIDENCY PROGRAMME FOR TRANSPORT, TOURISM AND SPORT One of the fundamental drivers for EU economic growth and improved competitiveness now and into the future is a strong, secure, environmentally sustainable and cost-effective transport, telecommunications and energy infrastructure. The Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (TTE) aims to develop coordinated networks and infrastructure which will benefit the internal market and the EU economy as a whole. Transport Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Sustainable and interconnected transport, energy and digital networks are priorities for Europe s economic future development. The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), which forms part of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), will determine how the Union s resources will be invested across transport, energy and telecommunications/digital infrastructures. Quality, integrated transport links are vital to Europe s competitiveness. Targeted investment to address bottlenecks and missing links will support Europe s economic recovery in the longer term. The Presidency will prioritise the Connecting Europe Facility and also a number of the individual proposals which will make connecting Europe a reality. Trans-European Networks Transport (TEN-T) TEN-T comprises a set of guidelines and requirements for the development of the European Transport network over the next four decades to TEN-T s vision for a comprehensive transport network will support the functioning of the internal market and underpin Europe s competitiveness. It will do so in a sustainable way, taking into account the EU s energy efficiency needs and climate change challenges. Discussions on the TEN-T are already at an advanced stage and the Presidency hopes to conclude agreement with the European Parliament. Fourth Rail Package The Rail Package is one of three transport dossiers which feature in the Single Market Act II to promote a more competitive and modern public transport infrastructure across the EU. This will offer consumers and business greater choice and more cost-effective options. The Presidency will work to make progress on the dossier. Airports Package Ireland s island status means that commercial aviation is a major priority for both consumers and exporters. Air passenger numbers across the EU have also continued to grow in recent decades, placing increasing pressure on supporting infrastructure. Currently 70% of all delays to flights are caused by problems on the ground and not in the air. 5

6 The Airports Package aims to address these issues of efficiency, quality and capacity across European airports. There is a particular focus on ground-handling services, slot allocation and noise reduction. An anticipated Air Passenger Rights proposal will also aim to clarify the rights of passengers, particularly in cases of flight cancellations, delays and denied boarding. The Presidency hopes to bring negotiations on the Airports Package to a satisfactory conclusion. It will launch the negotiation on Passenger Rights when the proposal is published. Other Transport Council legislation The Presidency is also aiming to secure agreement on proposals to enforce the Maritime Labour Convention and a new Tachograph Regulation (a device used to record hauliers driving hours); and to make good progress on other important dossiers impacting on the transport sector, including proposed new legislation under the Clean Power for Transport initiative (aiming at developing a comprehensive long-term alternative fuel strategy), and a number of safety related proposals including the Road Worthiness Package and Passenger Ship Safety. Two other transport-related dossiers which feature in the Single Market Act II the next phase of the Single European Sky initiative and a Blue Belt Initiative aimed at reducing administrative burdens for short sea shipping within the EU are expected to be published and presented during Ireland s Presidency. Other more technical files which will feature include: a new Marine Equipment Directive; a revision of the Directive on Occurrence Reporting in Civil Aviation; and the Recreational Craft Directive. Sport The key Presidency objective on the sport agenda will be to make progress on a number of issues highlighted in the EU s Work Plan on Sport. These include the issue of dual careers for sportspeople. The Council will consider how to ensure that sportspeople are equipped and educated for life beyond what is typically a short sporting career. A second priority will be to consider the contribution of sport to the economy, and identifying critical challenges in financing sport particularly grassroots sport - in a more sustainable way. Ireland will also represent the EU at the World Anti-Doping Agency over the next 18 months. Tourism Tourism is dealt with by the Competitiveness Council. As matters stand, there are unlikely to be any new tourism related proposals from the Commission over the six months of the Presidency which Ireland will be in a position to bring to the Competitiveness Council. Fáilte Ireland (the National Tourism Development Authority) will host a major international conference as part of the Presidency on 25 April in Dublin Castle. The conference will focus on Heritage Tourism. 6

7 PRESIDENCY CALENDAR 10 Jan - Visit of College of Commissioners, Dublin 21 Jan Minister Varadkar to address European Parliament s Committee on Transport and Tourism, Brussels 21 Jan Minister Varadkar to address Council of European Railways event, Brussels 23 Jan Minister of State Ring to address Europan Parliament s Committee on Culture, Education, Youth and Sport, Brussels 7 March Irish Sport Council Conference on theme of Sustainable Financing of Sport, Dublin Castle (with media access) Contact: Paul McDermott, Irish Sports Council pmcdermott@irishsportscouncil.ie 8 March EU Sports Directors meeting, Dublin Castle 11 March Transport Council Brussels Minister Varadkar to chair 27 March - Transport Working Group informal meeting comprising site visits on theme of transport challenges and opportunities in peripheral Member States, Dublin 28 March Road Safety Authority Conference on theme of Road Collisions & Serious Injuries, Dublin Castle (with media access) Contact: Eilish Mulhern, Road Safety Authority eilishmulhern@rsa.ie 28 March - Paris Memorandum of Understanding Group meeting, Dublin Castle 25 April Fáilte Ireland Tourism Conference on Heritage Tourism, Dublin Castle (with media access) Contact: Mary King, Failte Ireland mary.king@failteireland.ie May WADA Governing Board, Montreal Minister Varadkar to represent EU 17 May Education, Youth, Culture and Sports Council, Brussels Minister of State Ring to chair Sports Ministers session 4-7 June 9 th ITS European Congress, Convention Centre, Dublin (associated Presidency event focusing on development of Intelligent Transport Systems across Europe) 4 June VIP Dinner as part of Congress event Dublin Castle Departmental contact: John O Farrell - johnofarrell@dttas.ie 10 June - Transport Council Luxembourg Minister Varadkar to chair 7

8 11-12 June meeting of Administrative Co-Operation Working Group on Recreational Craft Directive, Dublin Castle 17 June - Minister Varadkar to address the European Parliament s Committee on Transport and Tourism, Brussels 17 June - Meeting of Steering Committee of the Euro Controle Route (ECR) (European Road Safety Authorities), Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin 18 June Euro Controle Route (ECR) Conference, Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin (with media access) Contact: Marie Harris, Road Safety Authority - marieharris@rsa.ie 8

9 WHO S WHO? Dr. Leo Varadkar, T.D., Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (TTE - Transport Council) Michael Ring, T.D., Minister of State for Tourism and Sport (EYCS - Sports Council) minister@dttas.ie Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, 44 Kildare Street, Dublin 2 ministerring@dttas.ie Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, 44 Kildare Street, Dublin 2 Dublin Team Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, 44 Kildare Street, Dublin 2 Tom O Mahony, Secretary General Direct Line: TomOMahony@dttas.ie Paul Bates, Assistant Secretary, Direct Line: PaulBates@dttas.ie Caoimhín Ó Ciaruáin, EU and Presidency Planning Unit, Direct line: caoimhinociaruain@dttas.ie Helen Conway, Events Coordination, Direct Line: helenconway@dttas.ie Lauren O Dea, General Enquiries on Presidency, Direct Line: LaurenODEA@dttas.ie Caroline Ryan, Press Officer Direct Line: CarolineRyan@dttas.ie Brussels Team Michael Harper, Counsellor (Aviation / Intermodal) Monica Wallace, Attaché (Shipping / Maritime / Land (rail)) Annemarie Smith, Attaché (Tourism / Sport / Land (road)) Direct Line: michael.harper@dfa.ie Direct Line: monica.wallace@dfa.ie Direct Line: annemarie.smith@dfa.ie Noirín Ní Earcáin, Team coordinator Direct Line: noirin.niearcain@dfa.ie Presidency Website: 9