Cross-border Directive Grinds to a Halt

Item Added 15 December 2008

Road safety directive fails in Transport Council debate

Deadlock during the Transport Council debate on 9 December has effectively stalled the proposed cross border road safety directive.

Council members were unable to reach agreement about whether the directive should be created under the first or third pillars, with more member states demanding a third pillar measure than in the second round debate in October.

Four delegations took the floor during the meeting. Italy was the only country to support a first pillar legal basis (Article 71 of the EC Treaty).

Delegations from Poland, The Netherlands and Denmark asked for a solution under the third pillar.

Transport Commissioner Antonio Tajani stressed that the commission does not agree with a third pillar solution. He also repeated that he does not intent to present a new proposal with a modified legal basis.

Subsequently the French Presidency issued a progress report giving three options for the future:

• Continuing negotiations for a first pillar legal instrument
• Establishing a third pillar instrument which could include measures to increase the efficiency of cross border road safety sanctions
• Combine the first two options, making a clear distinction between instruments falling under the two pillars.

During the press conference that followed the council meeting, the French Presidency stressed a successful conclusion was not possible under the remaining term of its presidency. It added that member states could conclude bilateral agreements on cross-border enforcement, pending a solution within the council.

“We don’t expect this piece of legislation to make any further progress under the French presidency or the forthcoming Czech presidency either,” said SPARKS programme manager Bill Blakemore.

“We plan to approach representatives from the Swedish government, which will hold the presidency in the second half of 2009, as there is more prospect of progress during Sweden’s term in office.

“Being realistic, we expect this directive will be inactive until after the European Parliament elections in June and the appointment of new commissioners during the autumn.”

Presidency progress report

UK backs off supporting EU cross border directive