Common transport policy: promotion of sustainable and safe mobility

The Economic and Social Committee welcomes the proposed Council decision insofar as it should prompt the Commission to make more intensive and purposeful use of the funds made available by the Parliament so that the problems associated with the transport of goods and people are solved as quickly as possible. The Committee thinks that it is vital for the Commission to be provided with the requisite funds and the legal basis for implementing the measures listed in Articles 2 and 3 of the proposal. It is also in the general interest for the Commission to be able to collect authoritative evidence by commissioning studies and analyses from independent experts. The Economic and Social Committee also welcomes the binding provision contained in Article 4 stipulating that each final payment is to be preceded by a detailed check on the services provided, taking into account the contractual obligations entered into by the beneficiary and the principles of basic economics and sound financial management. Finally, the Economic and Social Committee eagerly awaits the first Commission report due out in 2001 on the use made of the appropriations and the evaluation of their contribution towards the achievement of the objectives pursued by the Community (cf. Article 6 of the proposal). �