Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2006-02-02-Speech-4-019"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20060202.4.4-019"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:translated text |
".
Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the substantial development of road transport during the last twenty years has led the Commission to present two texts. The first is a proposal for a regulation drafted in 2001 aimed at simplifying, clarifying and updating a regulation well-known among drivers – number 3820/85 – which stipulates driving times, rest periods and breaks for the latter. The second is a proposal for a directive drafted in 2003 aimed at replacing a directive dating from 1988. This proposal for a directive guarantees a minimum level of checks with regard to driving times and rest periods in the road transport sector.
We all worked with the aim of finalising this package on 6 December 2005, following a long and difficult negotiating process that will have lasted over two years. The conciliation committee finally reached an agreement. Parliament did a great deal to help move this matter forward, and I should like to congratulate the chairman of your delegation, Mr Vidal-Quadras Roca, to whom Mr Markov was keen to pay tribute. I should also like to pay special tribute to the work of Mr Markov, Mr Grosch and Mr Piecyk and of the members of the Committee on Transport and Tourism, who paid a great deal of attention to the issues and who obtained real progress with regard to the text of the Council’s common position.
A compromise was reached on two-thirds of Parliament’s amendments concerning the regulation and on more than half of Parliament’s amendments concerning the directive. I will take the example of the introduction of a Community system designed to establish a common and precise classification of offences according to their seriousness. Harmonisation of this kind will enable us to clarify the obligations imposed by the rules, from the point of view both of industry and of inspectors throughout the whole of Europe. I stress ‘the whole of Europe’ and not just the European Union. Thanks to Parliament’s insistence, the Council and the Commission committed themselves to ensuring that the AETR Agreement can be ratified by the other European countries, including Russia, and this within two years.
It is true that we did not manage to include control of working time in the scope of the new directive. I can, however, assure you that the Commission will do everything in its power to ensure that the working time directive is applied in full. On 19 December, the Commission also sent ten reasoned opinions to the Member States that had not yet notified full transposition of this directive.
Moreover, the conciliation procedure has enabled further progress to be made. This legislative package is going to bring about a number of benefits and advances with regard to the current situation. I am certain of that. I will mention a few examples: clear and simple limits in relation to weekly driving times, which make the text easier to understand and, of course, enable us more effectively to monitor whether it is being complied with; a clear and explicit commitment in favour of harmonising the information systems, the technical features of the equipment, the classification of risks and the interpretation of rules; and finally, of course, the increase in controls, the extraterritoriality of penalties and accountability throughout the transport chain.
I should again like to stress, Mr President, that this progress has for the most part been obtained thanks to Parliament’s interventions. On the ground, the checks will be more coordinated and more effective. It is not only a question of increasing them, but also of making them more effective.
One final word on the digital tachograph. I should like to tell Parliament, in this Chamber this morning, just how useful it would be if the texts in question were approved because they are going to enable us to bring into effect the use of the digital tachograph. Parliament has agreed with the Council on a cut-off date for its introduction. Parliament and the Council have concluded a joint declaration on this matter. In anticipation of your agreement on the legislative package, I pointed out to the Transport Ministers from all the Member States, on 12 January 2006, that I, for my part, accepted extending the grace period until the cut-off date. I made this gesture in order to prevent any misunderstandings. However, it is clear that, over and above the date desired by the legislator – that is to say, by Parliament – any new lorry not equipped with the digital tachograph will risk incurring immediate penalties imposed by the national authorities, such as the vehicle being taken off the road.
Mr Markov, you questioned me on three points. I should like to make it clear to you that the Commission immediately got down to work in order to provide you with the answers you are awaiting.
Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, I dare to hope that you will be able to endorse the outcome of this conciliation procedure and that, together, we will finally be able to close this matter more than two years after the Commission put forward its proposal. It would be a great pity if we were to hold up the progress contained in these texts, progress that will therefore be able, thanks to your vote, to be applied in the European Union."@en1
|
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples