Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Transport), 03/12/2018, 3 December 2018

Main results

The Council agreed on its position (general approach) on a key reform of the road transport sector, which includes drivers' working conditions, special posting rules for drivers in international transport, access to the haulage market, and improved enforcement.

This reform will provide much-needed clarity for the road haulage sector. We reached a balanced outcome, which ensures decent working conditions for drivers, a well-functioning single market for transport companies and efficient control methods and cooperation for enforcement authorities. Norbert Hofer, Minister for Transport, Innovation and Technology of Austria, President of the Council

• Clearer, fairer and more enforceable rules for truck drivers – Council agrees its position (press release 4 December 2018)

The Council also reached a general approach on a proposal to make combined transport more competitive compared to road-only freight transport.

• Promoting combined transport – Council agrees its negotiating stance (press release 4 December 2018)

The Council adopted its position (partial general approach) on a proposal to ensure that the EU's flagship programme Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) will continue to fund key projects in the transport, digital and energy sectors beyond 2020.

The Facility is there to help member states on the path of decarbonisation, digital transformation and building smoother mobility. Norbert Hofer, Minister for Transport, Innovation and Technology of Austria, President of the Council

• Supporting transport, digital and energy sectors – Council agrees its position on Connecting Europe Facility (press release 3 December 2018)

The Council also reached a general approach on proposals to strengthen road infrastructure safety management, establish a European maritime single window for ships' reporting formalities, and streamline rules on the training of seafarers.

• Making roads safer – Council agrees its position on reform to strengthen road infrastructure management (press release 3 December 2018)
• Modernising ship reporting systems – Council agrees its stance on a maritime single window (press release 3 December 2018)
• Seafarers' training: Council adopts its position on streamlined framework (press release 3 December 2018)

Ministers assessed progress on a number of proposals, including on stopping seasonal time changes and updating rail passenger rights.

The Council also adopted conclusions on inland waterway transport.

• Inland waterway transport – exploiting its full potential (press release 3 December 2018)