Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council, 11-12 June 2015

A meeting of the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council was held in Luxembourg on 11-12 June 2015.

The following topics were part of the agenda:

+ Inland waterway vessels

The Council adopted a general approach on proposed technical requirements for inland waterway vessels. The draft directive harmonises procedures across two different legal regimes (European Union and Rhine) that are necessary to update unified technical standards.

+ Railway market opening and governance

Ministers took stock of governance and market opening proposals under the fourth railway package's market pillar. 'We have spared no effort working on the market pillar but clearly more time is needed to reach a political agreement based on a wide consensus within the Council', said Anrijs Matīss, the Latvian Minister for Transport, who chaired the meeting.

'At the same time, we have entered a decisive phase in talks with the European Parliament on the technical pillar, and with some good will from all parties involved an agreement should be possible next week when the last trilogue during the Latvian presidency takes place.'

+ Air passenger rights

Ministers also discussed progress made on a proposed update of EU passenger rights rules.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Inland waterway vessels: Council agrees its position http://www.europeansources.info/record/inland-waterway-vessels-council-agrees-its-position/

ESO: Background information: Digital services interoperability programme ISA² - Council agrees its position http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-digital-services-interoperability-programme-isa%c2%b2-council-agrees-its-position/

ESO: Background information: Council conclusions on the transfer of the stewardship of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) functions to the multistakeholder community http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-council-conclusions-on-the-transfer-of-the-stewardship-of-the-internet-assigned-numbers-authority-iana-functions-to-the-multistakeholder-community/

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