Priorities for Baltic States transport cooperation
EU’ Eastern Direction is exploring new opportunities and possibilities in transport. This issue has been the target of the recent Commission’s efforts to streamline the region’s transport policy. Efforts in transport cooperation with several Eastern European countries can provide an excellent opportunity for the Baltic States to take part. Now it is the question of political will and actions.
Following the Commission’s renewed approach to transport cooperation, Commission’s Vice-President Siim Kallas announced new priorities in cooperation. These Commission’s initiatives can have a lasting positive impact on corporate activity in the Baltic States, which can explore both their territorial position and transition opportunities.
Commission’s Vice-President Siim Kallas met transport ministers of the EU member states and of the six Eastern Partnership countries (24-25 October 2011) in Krakow, to move forward with transport cooperation between the EU and the partner countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine).
Vice-President Siim Kallas said: «We have agreed with the Eastern Partnership countries to work together to make travel easier for people and ensure that goods can be transported efficiently. To follow up this work, we launched the Eastern Partnership Transport Panel. Discussions at this first ministerial conference proved that the EU and Eastern Partnership countries see a mutual benefit in working together towards closer transport cooperation.»
Key challengesThe EU transport ministers summarised key challenges and opportunities for closer transport cooperation in a Joint Declaration. As a concrete initiative, they launched the Eastern Partnership Transport Panel as a framework for transport cooperation between the EU and the Eastern Partnership countries
As next steps, ministers have agreed to:— follow up actions set out in the Commission communication for closer transport market integration and improved infrastructure connections;
— plan a regional transport network for the Eastern Partnership region that connects with the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) and between the countries themselves;
— take into account the transport infrastructure projects of mutual interest;
— cooperate with international financial institutions that can contribute to improved transport connections through financing.
The EU and partner countries plan to review progress at a next Eastern Partnership ministerial transport meeting that will be organised on the basis of proposal by the Commission and the Presidency of the Council, and in cooperation with the partner countries.
In summer 2011, the European Commission put forward actions to improve transport connections with the EU’s neighbouring countries.
To bring transport cooperation with the neighbours to the East to the same level as with other neighbouring regions, specific focus is given to the Eastern Partnership countries. Countries covered by the Eastern Partnership are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.
Several steps have already been taken to strengthen transport links with this region.The Eastern Partnership Transport Panel met for the first time in Brussels on 14 October 2011 to discuss issues concerning transport cooperation, including progress made in negotiations on a comprehensive aviation agreement with Moldova and a mandate from the Council to negotiate a comprehensive aviation agreement with Azerbaijan.
Eugene Eteris Baltic-course.com
