Óscar Puente argues that cross-border connections should be the top priority to achieve a single market in Europe

The Minister for Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, during the meeting of the Council of EU Transport Ministers

To this end, as the minister pointed out, it is essential to have adequate European funding.

"Cross-border connections must clearly be the top priority. They are the key link in making the single market a reality and ensuring that the European transport system is a tool at the service of integration", said Óscar Puente during the working lunch held within the framework of the Formal Council of EU Transport Ministers, where the European ministers discussed the transport priorities for the next European legislature.

Throughout his speech, the minister stressed that the key aspects for the next legislature also include the need to maintain climate ambition within a framework of certainty, and the promotion of sustainable urban mobility.

Three key aspects

Regarding funding, Óscar Puente explained that it is essential to have a third edition of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) funds to ensure financial resources that are commensurate with the major challenges facing transport and infrastructures and the importance they have demonstrated in these times of crisis.

"CEF has proven to be key in the development of the Trans-European Transport Network, and must continue to be so now for the implementation of the new regulation and to achieve an integrated network with high technical standards," he said.

In this context, during one of his speeches at the EU Council, Óscar Puente reiterated Spain's clear commitment to any initiative that advances in the development of a 'single European railway area', guaranteeing an adequate connection between national networks and a loyal cooperation between member states.

"This is the only way to take the steps needed to help make the single market a reality through a seamless European rail network and open and fair competition," he said during the meeting to agree on the General Approach to the Regulation on the use of railway infrastructure capacity in the single European railway area, which aims to boost rail freight transport, in the framework of the objectives of decarbonisation of transport.

Regarding the second priority, the minister reiterated that the EU must maintain the level of ambition of the objectives to combat climate change while guaranteeing a just transition.

"In transport, we must find a good balance between short- and long-term objectives to avoid negative effects in the short term, especially on the competitiveness of the sector. We must define a realistic framework that gives certainty to citizens and makes them participants in change," he said.

Last, he explained that it is essential that the new European legislature continues with the impetus that both the Belgian and Spanish presidencies have given to active mobility.

The focus of the ecological transition must be on cities, which are at the centre of climate challenges, and are responsible for around 70% of greenhouse gas emissions. For this reason, work must continue to promote cycling, collective public transport and autonomous and connected mobility.

Guidelines

During the morning, the European transport ministers met to approve the general guidelines on the legislative dossiers on the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and the River Information Services (RIS).

In the framework of the goal to decarbonise freight transport by boosting the use of rail, the general approach of the new regulation on the use of railway infrastructure capacity in the single European railway area has also been adopted. The aim of the standard is to better respond to the different needs of the railway sector.

The minister also presented a statement supported by nine other member states calling for an assessment of the impact of the extension of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, known as the EU ETS, on maritime transport.

On this point, the European Commission has announced that, on the basis of a joint assessment between the member states, it will publish in December this year a first report on the impact of ETS on maritime transport, including possible measures.

In addition, at the request of the member states, a working group on Maritime ETS co-chaired by Greece and Cyprus has just been set up and will meet for the first time on 4 July.

In the afternoon, the Council was briefed by the EU Presidency, currently held by Belgium, on the state of play regarding a number of pending legislative dossiers in the field of transport.

Non official translation