Road transport: framework for the deployment of intelligent transport systems and for interfaces with other transport modes

In a public deliberation, the Council took note of the Presidency progress report on a draft Directive establishing the framework for the deployment of intelligent transport systems (ITS) in the field of road transport. The Commission presented its proposal in December 2008.The European Parliament adopted its first-reading opinion in April 2009.

The Council invited the competent bodies to pursue the examination of this proposal in order to reach a political agreement by the end of 2009.

The objective of this proposal is to create the conditions and to put in place the mechanisms to foster the uptake of ITS services and applications for road transport and their interfaces with other modes of transport in order to support a more efficient and environmentally friendly, safer and more secure freight and passenger mobility in the EU. To that end the proposal provides for the comitology procedure (regulatory procedure with scrutiny) to be applied to common and legally binding specifications defining detailed provisions and procedures for the deployment of ITS across the EU.

The Council working party examined this proposal and the accompanying action plan at several meetings.

A majority of delegations share the general aim of this proposal to accelerate and coordinate the deployment and use of Intelligent Transport Systems applied to road transport, including the interfaces with other transport modes. Although agreeing to the objective, Member States expressed concerns on the:

a) competence for the different priority areas proposed i.e. Community vs. Member States,

b) scope of the comitology procedure and obligations resulting thereof,

c) priorities of the different actions envisaged,

d) impact of the draft Directive on already existing ITS and national policies,

e) financial and administrative implications for the Member States.

A number of delegations could in principle follow the Commission's approach to apply the comitology procedure for establishing specifications and procedures for a coordinated and accelerated use of ITS across the EU. These delegations nonetheless express the wish to clearly define the areas to which the comitology procedure should be applied.

Member States express different views on the best ways and means to deploy ITS across the EU.