“We have only three months left to complete the preparations for the great challenge we are facing, namely the start of Bulgaria's mandate as a presiding country over the EU Council. Taking into account the complexity of the event, in the field of transport and telecommunications, we see the Presidency as a national cause and try to find a balance between the different priorities of the Member States and the EU's strategic priorities.” The Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications, Ivaylo Moskovski stated this today, during the public discussion of the priorities in the field of transport policy and telecommunications to the media, trade unions and branch organizations.
During the event, Deputy Ministers Velik Zanchev, Angel Popov and Dimitar Genovski presented the accents in the field, which are in the draft program of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU.
In his speech Deputy Minister Velik Zanchev presented key priorities and issues in the field of air transport and intermodal transport. During the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU, the "Aviation: An Open and Connected Europe" package will be considered. It contains legislative and non-legislative measures to protect the competition, connectivity and the economic regulation in the aviation. The Deputy Minister said that matters on the proposal for a Regulation on the protection of competition in air transport would continue. In his words, allowing unfair practices to continue in the long term may lead to a dominant position or even a monopoly in the aviation market. This would mean choice that is more limited, worse connectivity and higher prices for EU citizens. Bulgaria and other Member States are interested in creating an effective tool to ensure fair competition between Union’s air carriers and third countries, said Velik Zanchev.
Regarding the development of the intermodal transport and the possibilities for using combined transport between Member States, Deputy Minister Zanchev, was categorical that this is a priority of the European transport policy. The Combined Transport Directive is a major European instrument aimed at stimulating the transfer of goods from road transport to rail, inland waterways or maritime transport. This Directive was established 25 years ago and has not been transposed uniformly into the Member States’ national law. Velik Zanchev announced that the Bulgarian Presidency will start the negotiations on the draft amendment of the Directive, establishing common rules for certain modes of combined transport of goods between Member States, in order to stimulate the use of this mode of transport.
Deputy Minister Angel Popov announced that one of the MTITC’s main tasks is to prepare the Presidency's program in the field of transport policy and in particular in the road transport sector.
The main focus in the "Road Package" is the specific legislative proposal related to the implementation of the provisions concerning the posting of workers in international road transport and cabotage operations. Amendments provide that drivers performing international road haulage operations are to be paid the minimum hourly rate of the host Member State after a certain period of time has elapsed on the territory of that Member State.
According to the Deputy Minister serious debates are expected on the idea to prohibit the drivers performing international road haulage operations to take their regular weekly rest on board, as well as on the proposed provisions for mandatory return of drivers to their countries every three weeks.
In addition to, these provisions allow for the use of vehicles hired or registered in another Member State for at least four months in order to enable undertakings to respond to market demand or replace damaged vehicles.
Deputy Minister Angel Popov said that a main issue for Bulgaria would be to eliminate differences in the interpretation of legislation, especially the provisions related to the implementation of the directive concerning the posting in international transport and cabotage, as well as the rules on driving and rest time of drivers. In his words, differences in interpretation create legal uncertainty and lead to a fragmentation of the single internal market. "We will make every effort to adopt more precise regulations to improve efficiency in road transport in the EU", he added.
In the field of communications and information technology the main priority of the Bulgarian EU Presidency will be the final construction of a competitive and fair Digital Single market, Deputy Minister Dimitar Genovski said. Other major topics in this sector will be fast speed 5G internet connection; amendments in general telecoms legislation; enhancing the confidence and security of personal data in the digital space and development of a European data-based economy.
Deputy Minister Genovski added that the Bulgarian Presidency will give opportunities for the inclusion of the Western Balkans into the values of the European family. "One of our tasks will be to promote the EU's digital policies among the Western Balkan countries. These are broadband access for all, high-speed cross-border connectivity and the introduction of EU rules on gradual reduction or abolition of roaming charges for these countries", he said.
It is about to make crucial decisions for the European economy that will exert an impact on the daily life of each European, Deputy Minister Genovski said.
