Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council, 04-05/12/2017, 4-5 December 2017

Main results

Telecommunications

Today's meeting was a further step towards a digital single market, which is vital for Europe's competitiveness and prosperity. We reached agreement on a mandate for updating the rules for BEREC, and had very constructive discussions on how to take forward the work on two important issues: ePrivacy and the free flow of non-personal data. The debate showed strong support from member states for the free flow of data proposal and the presidency’s efforts to reach an agreement in the Council this year. Urvo Palo, Council President and Minister for Entrepreneurship and Information Technology

The Council agreed its position (general approach) on updating the rules for the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communication (BEREC). This will serve as a mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament. The Council agreed that the new rules should be aligned with its mandate on the European Electronic Communications Code, since the two proposals are closely interlinked. Negotiations on both dossiers will run in parallel.

• Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communication (BEREC): Council agrees its position

Ministers discussed two further issues which are part of the digital single market. They assessed the progress on a proposal to update privacy rules for electronic communications (ePrivacy). The draft regulation is intended to ensure a high level of protection for private life, communications and personal data in the electronic communications sector. The Council noted that some elements need further discussion before the general approach can be agreed.

The Council also discussed the draft regulation on the free flow of non-personal data. The regulation would end unjustified data localisation requirements and would establish a clear framework for non-personal data to move across borders in the EU. Ministers gave their strong backing to the proposal and supported efforts to reach a swift agreement on it.

Minister Palo signed a 5G roadmap that sets out specific deadlines for the harmonisation of spectrum necessary for the rollout of 5G as agreed between member states and confirms the objective of positioning Europe as a leading market for 5G on the world stage.

• 5G roadmap

Transport

The Council assessed progress on a key set of proposals on road transport. These are part of the mobility package presented by the Commission in May this year. They cover access to the occupation of transport operator, access to the market including cabotage, and drivers' working conditions. The proposed rules on improving hauliers' working conditions include new provisions on the posting of workers in the road transport sector, as well as rules on driving and rest time for drivers. "We have made considerable progress on several aspects of these proposals but more effort is required, especially on posted drivers and cabotage rules. I hope that our work so far, as well as today's debate, will lead to substantial progress on these proposals, and in particular make it possible to move forward on the outstanding issues," said Kadri Simson, Council President and Minister for Economic Affairs and Infrastructure.

Ministers held a policy debate on road charging proposals, which are part of the same road transport package. These include the proposed Eurovignette directive, which aims to reinforce the 'polluter pays' and 'user pays' principles, and a revised directive on European Electronic Toll Services (EETS), which would facilitate the use of electronic tolls across the EU. Ministers' views will provide input for further work on these proposals.

The Council assessed progress on the proposed regulation to safeguard competition in air transport. The aim of this regulation is to ensure fair competition between EU airlines and third-country carriers while maintaining conditions conducive to a high level of connectivity.

The Council also adopted three sets of conclusions: on the progress in trans-European transport networks (TEN-T) and the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for transport; digitalisation of transport; and the mid-term evaluation of Galileo, EGNOS and the European GNSS agency. "These three sets of conclusions reflect the importance which the Estonian presidency attaches to connectivity and innovation. They are all about cooperation at the European level to make it easier for our citizens to move about, and make our lives safer and even more comfortable," said Minister Simson.

• Digitalisation of transport - Council conclusions
• Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) - progress of implementation