Mathias Ruethe Director-General of the EC's Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE) has published his challenges for 2011.  In DG MOVE's weekly newsletter he focused on the presentation of the White Paper on the Future of Transport.

The White paper will detail EU's transport policy for the next 10 years, as part of the resource efficiency EU 2020 flagship and provide an outlook beyond. Later in the year, the discussions concerning the next Multiannual Financial Framework will start, based on the overall framework and more detailed proposals.

• The main transport initiatives outlined already in the Commission's 2011 work programme can be subsumed under the following headings:
  The single transport area. DG MOVE will continue to work towards market opening and ensuring fair competition in order to sustain the EU economy's growth and recovery. The Commission will in 2011 focus in particular on modernising legislation covering the airports sector. To strengthen the competiveness of the EU maritime industry and increase the quality of jobs, the Commission will present proposals on the human factor in the maritime sector. The campaign to increase EU citizens' awareness of their rights when travelling will continue. In addition, the Commission will present an assessment of passenger rights in all modes of transport. In the road sector, the discussions to adopt the proposal on Eurovignette will continue and, once adopted, will firmly anchor into EU law the principle of internalising external costs. As demonstrated during various events in 2010, the work on ensuring the security and safety of the single transport area will need to carry on, not least with Commission inspections to ensure aviation and maritime security and safety. The Commission will also present a comprehensive assessment of transport security and new rules on airport security scanners, licensing of air crew and passenger ship safety.
• Infrastructure: 2011 will see intensified discussions on the next generation Trans-European Networks. The objective of the revision is to focus these networks and the funding more on a "core" network of corridors that have clear European added value. As the Trans-European Networks are of significant financial importance, the revision has to follow closely the discussions on next Multiannual Financial Framework. The Commission will also present a Communication where it outlines its vision on transport relations and improved connections with EU's neighbouring countries.
• Innovation. To ensure that Europe continues to have the technological edge, DG MOVE will continue to promote future technologies and applications. It will also prepare the ground for a future EU strategy on transport research and innovation which will focus on key areas where the EU can bring added value. DG MOVE will also work on the future governance structure of the SESAR programme. The Commission will present an e-mobility package to increase safety and interoperability within and between different transport modes. It will start preparations for launching the innovation partnership pilot on "smart mobility".

• DG MOVE website

• DG MOVE newsletters