Rt Hon MP (Secretary of State for
Transport): The Romanian Presidency hosted an informal meeting of
transport ministers in Bucharest on Wednesday 27 March (2019). This
was not a formal Council meeting and no decisions were taken. This
statement provides a summary of discussions. The UK was represented
by officials.
The meeting discussed multimodality, sustainability,
infrastructure and road safety. On multimodality, participants
underlined the importance of developing a comprehensive approach
to multimodal transport. Integrated ticketing systems, promotion
of car-sharing or public transport, digitalisation and
interoperability were identified as means for developing
multimodality.
On sustainability, participants discussed the importance of
action to reduce the impact of transport on climate change,
recognising the challenges raised by an increasing need for
mobility and the negative impact on the climate. Policy and
practical approaches to encouraging multimodal transport were
discussed, with many interventions focusing on possible measures
to be taken in order to decarbonise transport such as: promotion
of alternative fuels, digitalisation, better planning of
services, uptake of new technologies, and incentives for use of
public transport or cycling.
The Commission set out its thinking on the revision of the TEN-T
Regulation, following the launch of its review process in March,
and its plans for consultation with stakeholders and member
states in the next few months. Participants welcomed the
Commission’s initiative to start the revision process of the
TEN-T regulation and discussed future funding options for the
promotion of priority projects.
Over lunch the meeting heard some presentations on road safety.
The European Commission stressed the importance of member states
implementing the ‘vision zero’ to reduce fatalities and severe
injuries on roads. The European Commission will be seeking to
re-focus its efforts in this area by introducing a new policy
framework on Road Safety for 2021 to 2030. In addition, they will
seek to foster a partnership with the European Investment Bank to
provide the ‘safer transport facility’ with the aim of providing
a ‘one stop shop’ to support member states in achieving the
objective.
The UK did not intervene substantively.
