News from Europe
EEA underlines the link between climate change battle and air quality improvement
The EU Thematic Strategy on air pollution aims to improve European air pollution significantly by 2020. The European Environment Agency (EEA) has analysed improvement prospects for a further ten year period, also integrating climate change instruments as an intervening variable. In a report published on June 1st, the Agency stresses the positive side-effect of climate
Results of the pilot program on hydrogen-fuel cell buses
The EU Commission presented on 11 May the results of a pilot programme launched in 2003 that powered 27 hydrogen-fuel cell public buses in 9 European cities. Called “Clean Urban Transport for Europe” (CUTE), the project has helped cast light on the viability of this emissions-free transportation means. The small-scale CUTE experiment shows that improvements
New orientation for EU Transport Policy
The European Commission adopted on 22 June the orientation for the future EU transport policy. The objective of mobility growth control and modal shift from road and air to rail and waterborne modes described in the 2001 White Paper has been replaced by an objective to offer the necessary level of mobility to people and
Political agreement on the revised proposal for a regulation of PSO in public transport
The Council reached a political agreement on the revised proposal for a regulation on public service obligations for passenger transport services by rail and by road, published by EU Commission on 20 July 2005. The text as agreed will be adopted as a common position at a forthcoming Council session under Finnish Presidency and sent
The European Commission adopted the Thematic Strategy on the Urban Environment
Following the communication “Towards a Thematic Strategy on the Urban Environment”, adopted in February 2004 EU commission adopted on 11 January 2006 the expected Thematic Strategy on the Urban Environment – SEC(2006)16. Based on extensive consultation with stakeholders this strategy aims at improvement of the quality of the urban environment. It sets out new measures
EU Commission proposes clarification of EU rules on public-private partnerships
The European Commission has published in November 2005 a Communication with new policy options on Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) that are agreementsbetween public authorities and businesses, whose aim is to carry out infrastructure projects or providing services to the public. The Communication follows a major public consultation which was launched by the PPP Green Paper in
Attitudes towards car use in Great-Britain
In the framework of studies related to the impact of transport on climate change, the UK Department for Transport published an article describing attitudes towards car use in Great Britain and particularly analysing the link between the following items: – levels of car ownership and use and the factors that might impact on car use
New proposal for Euro 5 standards
The EU Commission presented on 22 December 2005 a new proposal for Euro 5 standards for new passenger cars and light vehicle emissions, aiming at improving air quality in Europe, especially in urban areas. Particles emissions from diesel cars would be slashed by 80% and nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 20%. The tougher standards proposed would
EU Commission has launched the mid-term review of its transport policy
The European Commission will carry out over the coming months the mid-term review of the White Paper on “the European transport policy for 2010”, that has been adopted in 2001. The objective of the mid-term review is to assess the impact of measures that have been proposed to: – rebalance transport modes – reduce congestion
One step forward for the third railway package
EU Commission has adopted the thrid railway package on 3rd March 2004. It contains measures to revitalise the European railways. The package consists of a Communication, four legislative measures and a working document on an extended impact assessment for the gradual opening up of the market for international passenger services. One of the legislative measures
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