“The year 2005 and the previous Presidency were a success. At the same time, a number of critical points have emerged, to which we shall try to find the solution during the Austrian Presidency. We still need more answers to issues regarding safety, mobility and the environment”, stated Transport Minister and Vice-Chancellor Hubert Gorbach at the European Parliament Transport Committee meeting in Brussels on Wednesday, 25 January. “Austria has achieved a great deal in this area over the past few years, and will continue along this path during the Presidency”, said the Minister
“The constructive working relationship between the Council and the EP Transport Committee has produced good results over the past months, as for instance with the Eurovignette Directive in December 2005,” stated Minister Gorbach. The Transport Minister was confident that this would remain so in future. In the area of rail transport, the Minister confirmed that they would continue the intensive work on opening up the market for cross-border passenger traffic and on passengers' rights in order to reach agreement within the EU. He also stated that, in principle, Austria was in favour of a recasting of the Driving Licence Directive. This would be in the interests of road safety, one of the main themes of the Austrian Presidency. “Employment and growth demand mobility. It will therefore be necessary to make the corresponding financial support available for the TEN projects in order to remain credible”, stated Minister Gorbach
The Austrian Transport Minister concluded by citing other key issues: the mid-term review of the White Paper on EU Transport Policy, the signing of the Transport Protocol to the Alpine Convention, to which he wanted a positive conclusion, and Marco Polo II which seeks to encourage alternative transport modes. “There’s a lot to be done – so, to quote Goethe: In the end, we can only move forwards.”
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