Reply to the Third Report of the European Conference of Ministers of Transport
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- (see Doc. 697, Report of the Economic Committee) This Resolution was adopted by the Assembly at its 28th Sitting, on 29th October 1957
1. The Assembly has examined with great interest the Third Report of the European Conference of Ministers of Transport, is impressed by the work that has been done by the Conference and its Committees, and wishes to express its satisfaction at being kept thus informed on the development of transport facilities in Europe.
2. The Assembly notes with special interest the fruitful co-operation that has taken place between the Conference and other European organisations, particularly O.E.E.C.
3. The Assembly urges the Conference to develop a real transport policy, particularly in regard to investment. A sound basis for such a policy can only be provided if more information, and in particular more statistics, are obtained through a joint effort, and if studies of long-term developments in transport are undertaken. The Assembly would like to have specific details in the Fourth Report of what arrangements have been made in this direction.The Assembly draws the attention of the Conference to the following points arising from the Third Report :
Relations with the European Economic Community
4. The Assembly is particularly concerned that effective collaboration should be arranged with the appropriate division of the European Commission of the European Economic Community, in order, in particular, to avoid wasteful dispersal of the specialists who are so urgently required in European transport planning and in the preparation of exhaustive statistics.
Railways
5. The Assembly congratulates the E.CM.T. on the setting up of EUROFIMA. It would, however, like to have more detailed information about the work already undertaken or planned for the future by EUROFIMA.
6. The continuing railway deficits in many countries evidently call for a change in the railway policies of the national Governments concerned. In this connection the Assembly particularly draws the attention of the E.CM.T. to the Conclusion (Part IV) of the attached Explanatory Memorandum, and ventures to affirm yet again that undertakings in the public interest do not have to, and should not, run at a loss.
7. Moreover, rationalisation can be advanced further at an international level. In particular, the Assembly suggests that the Conference pay attention to the possibility of joint development by the railways, with the assistance of EUROFIMA, of diesel locomotives and electric locomotives for different types of current, with a view to large-scale production. As regards the latter, the Assembly would like to know whether standard production could not in the future be concentrated on locomotives using two types of current, 3,000 volts DC and 16 2/3 (or 50) cycles monophase.
8. The Assembly would be grateful for further information on any steps taken to promote co-operation between European airlines and railways.
Road transport
9. The Assembly draws the attention of the E.C.M.T. to the fact that rules and regulations for road traffic still differ considerably from one country to another. The increasing volume of international traffic requires urgent efforts for unification in this field. The Assembly therefore requests the E.C.M.T. to organise a study group whose job it should be to work out a European Highway Code, collaborating in this task with other international bodies that may also be working in the same field.
10. The Assembly, having noted with interest the progress made in international road-building through restricted groups, recommends the establishment of such a group for the Baltic project between Denmark and Germany. The Group should include not only representatives of the countries directly concerned, but also of those which might indirectly be affected.
Waterways
11. The Assembly has followed with interest the work of the study groups for "Inland waterways of general European importance raising difficult problems". The Assembly would welcome a general survey of the whole network of inland waterways of European importance, and of plans for expansion.
Tourism
12. The Assembly would like to have further information of the E.C.M.T.'s activities in relation to tourism, and, in particular, the fullest details of what results from the co-operation in this field with O.E.E.C.
