Committee on Transport and Tourism Ordinary meeting
Legend
Transcript markers
- text Sentence being played
- text Search result
- text Intervention cited by the link you opened
Click a sentence to play the video from that moment. Select text to quote it with the speaker, timestamp and link.
More options
Offset
Transcript offset
Export
Live capture
Versions of this video
Transcripts may differ slightly from one version to another.
TRAN European Parliament
Follow its sittingsSeán Canney
We also fully support the greater recognition for seafarers and the promotion of equal participation for women in shipping, as set out in the Lefkosia Declaration. Cyprus has understandably placed strong emphasis on these issues, and as a fellow island member state, we will continue to work constructively on these issues, particularly in relation to supporting greater resilience, energy transition, and highlighting the role of ports for Europe's broader competitiveness. In this context, we will also continue to support efforts to improve the attractiveness of the profession and to modernize training in order to address critical skill needs within the sector. Here we will look to provide strong EU leadership in the ongoing revision of seafarer training requirements and update the STCW convention and codes at the International Maritime Organization. In aviation, we understand that the Commission is working towards a new EU aviation and aeronautics strategy later this year.
Given the importance of aviation to the European economy and connectivity, this is expected to focus on the sector's competitiveness and ensuring a sustainable air transport sector. If timing allows, we will be ready to facilitate an initial examination and support a useful political discussion at Council.
We also note the Commission's ongoing work on the revision of the Air Services Regulation, the key framework governing access to and operation within the EU single aviation market for EU air operators. We will begin examining the proposal as soon as it is adopted by the European Commission. Taken together, these files underline a simple point: competitiveness in transport is not only about infrastructure and connectivity, but also ensuring that Europe's industrial base can adapt and thrive through transition. The wider economic impact is also seen in tourism, particularly for the island and peripheral regions, where transport links support visitor access, local enterprise and regional development. Minister Burke, my colleague, will address the tourism dimension in greater detail.
Secondly, decarbonisation in transport remains central, but the discussion increasingly turns on how that transition is delivered in a way that is workable for our citizens and businesses, that supports climate ambition and industrial capacity in Europe and delivers emission reductions in practice. It is appropriate in that context to reference the revisions of the Weights and Dimensions Directive, where we aim to reach an agreement with the Parliament in the autumn.
The automotive package is also relevant here, including the CO2 standard for cars and vans, which is proceeding through the Environment Council, Environmental Council, and the clean corporate vehicles proposals. These files sit at the intersection of climate policy, industrial competitiveness, and consumer affordability, and bring together a wide range of Member States' perspectives reflecting different economic structures and transition pathways. From a Presidency point of view, our goal will be to ensure structured, disciplined Council handling, creating space for consideration of linked issues to ensure a holistic approach. During the Presidency, the ETS for aviation and maritime will be an important part of the overall review of the ETS system, alongside with the IMO net-zero framework. This is important in the context of international alignment and with continued ambition for decarbonisation while preserving a level playing field.
Thirdly, on delivering for citizens, the passenger rights and digitalisation agenda is where transport policy is most directly experienced by the public.
Ireland sees real scope to add value in progressing the wider passenger rights agenda, in particular multimodal passenger rights and the related rail passenger right element of the passenger package. These files go to the heart of how citizens experience the European transport system, and we will work with both institutions to build convergence where possible. More broadly, we will seek to advance the new passenger package as far as possible while preserving coherence across the package. Overall, our focus will be on supporting practical progress, progress that will improve the end-user experience while remaining workable for national authorities and operators. Finally, on safety, security and resilience, the transport agenda increasingly reflects the geopolitical context in which the Union is operating, alongside the more traditional focus on safety outcomes.
From that perspective, military mobility is an important file for the European Union as a whole. It speaks directly to the preparedness and resilience and to the need for an effective and reliable transport system in support of wider security objectives. We recognise the importance of this agenda across the Union and are committed to continuing the priority being demonstrated under the Cyprus presidency, working towards the conclusion of inter-institutional negotiations during our presidency.
Alongside this, the more conventional safety files remain very much part of the picture. The roadworthiness package is a good example, technically detailed but with clear implications for road safety, enforcement, and regulatory clarity. We were glad to make a positive start to negotiations with the Parliament already, and we remain committed to working towards a final agreement before the end of the year. We will also introduce the proposed revisions to the European Union Agency for Railways regulation and seek to progress them. We see growing relevance in issues such as connected and autonomous vehicles, where safety, innovation, and liability considerations intersect, and in the broader maritime safety architecture, including the European Maritime Safety Agency's role in supporting member states with maritime domain awareness, resilience, and operational capability.
Taken together, these strands underline how transport policy now sits at the intersection of safety, resilience, and strategic preparedness, a theme that will continue into the future.
Across all the four themes that I have set out, competitiveness, decarbonisation, delivering for citizens and safety, security and resilience, the Irish presidency will be guided by Ireland's overarching presidency pillars of competitiveness, values and security. Our objective is to use these six months to support practical progress, maintain continuity across the trio and work constructively with the Parliament and Member States. We know that progress on many of these files will depend on close and constructive engagement with members of this committee, and Ireland is committed to that engagement throughout our presidency. I look forward to hearing your views, your views and to a constructive engagement with you all today and thank you all very much.
Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi
Thank you very much, Mr. Kenny, and now Mr. Burke, the floor is yours, Mr. Minister, for the priorities in tourism matters. Thank you.
Peter Burke
Gabh mo leithscéal, a Chathaoirligh, tá an-áthas orm a bheith anseo inniu le mo chomhghleacaí, an tAire Seán. Chair, honourable members of the European Parliament, it is an honour to appear before you today to address the Committee on Transport and Tourism on a topic of which is of great importance and value to Europe: the future competitiveness, resilience and sustainability of our tourism and hospitality sector.
As mentioned by my colleague Minister Kenny, Ireland has assumed the presidency under the motto Ní neart go cur le chéile, strength with unity. And as we progress through our term, Ireland understands that working closely with the European Commission, this Parliament, and fellow member states is vital to support the tourism and hospitality sector to achieve our shared goals. Tourism continues to be a strategic pillar of the European economy and is one of Europe's great success stories. It is a sector that contains roughly 4.6 million businesses, which support approximately 13.4 million jobs, strengthening regional economies, sustaining local communities, and showcasing the rich and cultural natural heritage of our member states. Importantly, tourism is built on a sector of small businesses across Europe, SMEs and micro-enterprises form the backbone of the industry.
Their success is essential not only for economic growth, but also for social cohesion and balanced regional development.
Moreover, these businesses are at the heart of a broader tourism ecosystem, supporting local suppliers, hospitality providers, transport services, cultural and heritage attractions, and community organisations that together create vibrant and sustainable destinations. The past six years have highlighted both the vulnerability and the resilience of the tourism sector. While the industry has demonstrated a remarkable capacity to adapt, significant challenges remain, particularly against a backdrop of ongoing geopolitical uncertainty. Businesses continue to navigate changing consumer expectations, digital transformation, sustainability requirements, labour shortages, and increasing global competition. During the Irish Presidency, we will take a practical and forward-looking approach to strengthening the competitiveness of Europe's tourism and hospitality sector.
We are committed to supporting businesses and workers as they adapt to these structural changes, while ensuring that Europe remains a high-quality, innovative, and globally competitive destination for visitors from right around the world. As a key part of this effort, we will be facilitating engagement on how to improve the operating environment for SMEs.
Simpler access to EU supports, improved financing opportunities, and the reduction of unnecessary administrative burdens can help businesses invest, innovate, and grow. Accelerating digital adoption and creating conditions that encourage entrepreneurship will be vital to the sector's long-term success. The Irish Presidency looks forward to the adoption and publication of the first EU sustainable tourism strategy and remains ready to engage with Member States on this important document through the Tourism Working Party. We strongly support the vision outlined by our Commissioner to develop a more resilient, sustainable, and future-proofed tourism model. We particularly welcome the balanced approach that recognizes the need to combine economic growth with environmental protection, community well-being, and continued global competitiveness.
We support measures that strengthen resilience, help businesses respond to market developments and technological change, and improve access to opportunities available through EU programs and initiatives. At the same time, sustainability must remain at the heart of our approach.
The presidency welcomes the focus on a more balanced tourism development through better management of visitor flows, the promotion of year-round travel and greater support for regional destinations. The implementation of the EU short-term rental regulation will provide policymakers with access to more timely and harmonized data, supporting informed decision-making and helping to spread the benefits of tourism more evenly across destinations. The Irish presidency will work to support the ongoing implementation of the short-term rental regulation while fostering policy coherence with new initiatives under the EU affordable housing plan. It is our view that tourism should create benefits that are shared widely across communities, including those in rural, peripheral and island regions. The most recently announced EU strategy, island strategy and coastal strategy represent an important recognition that islands and peripheral coastal regions face unique challenges that required tailored policy responses.
These are the first EU-wide frameworks specifically focused on islands and coastal communities. For islands and peripheral regions, connectivity remains fundamental. Reliable and affordable air and maritime links are not a luxury, they are an essential for economic development, tourism, access to services and social cohesion.
The new strategies acknowledge the importance of improving connectivity and reducing the disadvantages associated with geographic remoteness. Minister Kenny has set out the intended approach to the transport files and Irish officials remain ready to engage with member states in the tourism working party and provide assistance and input from tourism perspective on these items. Another challenge that requires attention is the issue of skills and labour shortages. The availability of a skilled workforce and the attractiveness of careers in tourism and hospitality remain critical concerns across Europe. The Irish presidency will work with a coordinated European approach to strengthening the tourism skills agenda.
Skills systems must be responsive to labour market needs and supported by strong collaboration between governments, industry and education providers. We must support the tourism workforce by improving access to training and upskilling opportunities, creating clearer career progression pathways, fostering positive working environments and helping SMEs attract, develop and retain talent. Progress on skills recognition, including the greater use of EU frameworks and digital credentials, can help facilitate labour mobility and improve the matching of skills with employment opportunities across the Union.
Looking ahead, a more data-informed approach to workforce planning, combined with targeted investment in upskilling and lifelong learning, will be necessary to address the emerging needs. Success will depend on sustained cooperation between education providers, industry stakeholders, and public authorities. Through structured engagement and joint initiatives, we can better anticipate future skill requirements and create more effective pathways into employment, particularly in regions and sectors experiencing acute shortages. Finally, I believe there is significant value in strengthening coordination at EU level. Continued cooperation between Member States, EU institutions, and industry stakeholders will help us address shared challenges, exchange best practices, and scale successful solutions.
Enhanced coordination can improve coherence across the many policies that affect tourism and ensure our collective efforts deliver tangible results. Chair, members, Europe remains the world's leading tourism destination. However, maintaining that position cannot be taken for granted. It requires coordinated action to strengthen competitiveness, invest in people, support innovation, promote sustainability, and build resilience.
We look forward to working closely with the European Commission, this Parliament, and our fellow member states to advance a practical agenda that supports businesses, creates quality employment, and delivers long-term benefits for communities across Europe. Together, we can help build a tourism sector that is stronger, greener, more resilient, and better prepared for opportunities and challenges of the future. I look forward to hearing your views and engaging with you in the questions that you may have this afternoon. Go raibh maith agat. Thank you.
Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi
Thank you very much, Mr. Burke. Now, colleagues, we will open our debate. We will do it in two rounds. First of all, I'll give the floor for two, up to three minutes for each coordinator to have the floor, and then our ministers will answer. And then the second round to the other members, other colleagues.
I have to please ask you to keep the time because we have a lot of speakers. So we start with Mr. Gieseke. Thank you.
Jens Gieseke
Yes, thank you, Chair, and Minister Kenny, Minister Burke. Welcome to the TRAN Committee. Your motto is "Strength with Unity". I think it's a very good motto. Good luck for your presidency.
And I was really happy to hear that in your presidency, competitiveness is key.
We are ready to work constructively with you. And now I switch to German because you have to see we have 23 languages, you have to use your headphone now. Minister Berg, Minister Kenny, Sie nehmen die Verantwortung in der irischen Ratspräsidentschaft zu einem entscheidenden Moment für Europa. Es ist schwierig, die geopolitische Lage, darüber müssen wir nicht reden. Ich möchte drei Punkte kurz ansprechen, die wichtig sein werden in Ihrer Ratspräsidentschaft.
Das haben Sie auch angesprochen, Minister Kenny, in Ihrer Rede, die Frage des Transportbudgets und des mehrjährigen Finanzrahmens. Es ist ganz offensichtlich, dass wir eine gute und leistungsfähige Infrastruktur brauchen. Und auch in Ihrem Vortrag haben Sie deutlich gemacht, dass es eher darum geht, mehr Geld auszugeben ins transeuropäische Netz, Connecting Europe Facility haben Sie angesprochen. Und es ist eher so, dass Aufgaben dazukommen, Stichwort militärische Mobilität. Das heißt, wenn wir da kürzen, bekommen wir große Probleme.
Das ist eine gemeinsame Priorität. Und ich möchte nur sagen, das Europäische Parlament ist an Ihrer Seite, um für ein gutes Budget zu kämpfen. Wir sind bereit.
Zweitens, und Sie haben das auch angesprochen, Minister Kenny, in Ihrer Ansprache, ich möchte mal auf die low-hanging fruits oder relatively low-hanging fruits Bezug nehmen, das Roadworthiness Package. Hier sind wir auf dem guten Weg. Der erste Trilog hat stattgefunden. Wir wollen das so unbürokratisch wie möglich erledigen. Wir wollen Straßenverkehrssicherheit.
Wir wollen keine zusätzlichen Belastungen. Und ich glaube, das ist wirklich ein Thema, was man innerhalb von sechs Monaten lösen kann. Sie haben andere Themen in Ihrer Agenda, Stichwort Automotive Package. Das ist auch hier im Parlament sehr umstritten, ob wir das unter Ihrer Ratspräsidentschaft hinbekommen, ist fraglich. Aber da würde ich mir wünschen, dass wir die Fortschritte machen, soweit es möglich ist, sowohl was CO2-PKW angeht als auch was die Fleets angeht.
Insofern kämpfen wir da gemeinsam. Da meine Zeit heute stark begrenzt ist und wir kurz vor der Sommerpause sind, nur ein letzter Punkt, aber das ist mir ein Herzensanliegen. Ich komme aus Niedersachsen, aus dem schönen Emsland, und da ist die Teststrecke für den Transrapid. Die Magnettechnik funktioniert, aber nicht in Europa. Hier haben wir technologisch innovativ versagt.
Wir haben etwas hinbekommen in Europa und der sozusagen die Umsetzung findet woanders statt, in China. Das soll nicht wieder passieren. Wir sind noch führend im Bereich der Hyperloop-Technologie und die Kommission schafft es irgendwie nicht, einen Vorschlag hervorzubringen.
Wenn wir gemeinsam Druck machen als Parlament und Ratspräsidentschaft, können wir auch hier Fortschritte erzielen. Insofern dieses letzte Thema Hyperloop würde ich Ihnen gerne mit auf den Weg geben, dass Sie zusammen mit uns dem Parlament Druck ausüben auf die Kommission, dass wir hier den nächsten Fortschritt machen und die Kommission einen Vorschlag macht. Vielen Dank.
Johan Danielsson
Thank you, Chair, and welcome to the committee to the ministers. Happy to see that the presidency has put forward, I think, a broad transport agenda, including many of the Parliament's priorities on clean and safe transport, decarbonisation, TEN-T, CEF, which you heard already you have broad support from the Parliament. The key question is, of course, then how do you translate these into concrete progress on files that within the Council, but also in negotiation with the Parliament? So, I mean, first of all, a low-hanging fruit, hopefully, but also being the other rapporteur on the roadworthiness package, specifically on the proposal concerning vehicle registration documents, registration data, I welcome very much the approach to find an agreement during your presidency. It is a technical file, perhaps less political controversial than the other, but I think we should not underestimate its practical importance for citizens.
Our position in the Parliament is clear: we need easier cross-border registration, we also need better measurements against fraud. So I hope with quite close starting points that we will be able to find an agreement more quickly.
On the air service regulation, I'm happy to say, to hear that you are ready to start work on it. Perhaps also you could help us to get the Commission to finally present a proposal so we get something to work on. We have tried for some years. Politically for our group, it is important with the competitiveness of the sector, of course, for connectivity in Europe, but it's also important that a competitive and resilient European aviation sector also must be socially responsible, environmentally sustainable and fair to passengers and workers. We could read in a recent report from ELA that a majority of national authorities consider aviation to be a high-risk sector regarding compliance with posting rules, social security coordination and fair contractual arrangements.
And this is of course due to the growing abuse, misuse of subcontracting, complex company structures and wet-leasing arrangements. And this is something we therefore need to look to carefully, I think, in connection with the air service regulation. So my question would be, in these first talks that you will have, how will the presidency ensure that the revision addresses unfair competition, not only from third-country companies, which is of course important, but also between airlines operating within the European Union?
Specifically, how does the presidency view the role of wet leasing in the EU aviation market? Because of course, I mean, Ireland and Sweden are two countries that are good example of the need of connectivity, but this also need to be connectivity based on fair competition. Also, you will have more detailed question, I'm sure, for colleagues on the automotive package. But of course, one of the important files that could accelerate the move to zero emission vehicles, having decarbonization as one of your priorities in the presidency, is the corporate fleet proposal. So if you could perhaps also develop a little bit from the presidency perspective how you view this file as an accelerator of decarbonization.
Thank you.
Roman Haider
Ja, danke Frau Vorsitzende. Minister Kenny, Minister Burke, vielen Dank für die Vorstellung Ihres Programms. Ich möchte vor allem auf zwei Punkte näher eingehen, die für uns als Patrioten von besonderer Bedeutung sind. Das ist das Verbrennerverbot und das Konzept der Clean Corporate Vehicles.
Sie betonen ja in Ihrem Programm für die irische Ratspräsidentschaft und jetzt auch hier vor uns im Raum, dass der Erhalt unseres Wohlstands durch die Stärkung der europäischen Wettbewerbsfähigkeit ein wichtiger Baustein für Ihre Ratspräsidentschaft sein wird. Jetzt stellt sich die entscheidende Frage, werden Ihren Worten auch Taten folgen, denn schön reden allein wird zu wenig sein. Die von der Kommission eingeschlagene Richtung drängt Europa ja sehenden Auges in die totale Abhängigkeit von China. Und ohne europäische Regulierungen, ohne die beinahe schon mittelalterlich religiöse Anbetung von Klimamodellen, hätten wir all diese Probleme nicht, die jetzt auf dem Tisch liegen. Hunderttausende Familien alleine in Deutschland und meinem Heimatland Österreich erfahren aus erster Hand, dass Green Jobs überall entstehen, nur nicht in Europa.
Die sauberste Industrie der Welt, die europäische Automobilindustrie, wird durch schmutzige Industrien ersetzt. Und mit viel Pathos und Feigheit regulieren wir unsere Schifffahrt, unsere Luftfahrt und unsere Automobilindustrie gegen die Wand. Wir machen uns abhängig von genau dem einen nachweislich europafeindlichen Lieferanten von China. Und Ihre Ratspräsidentschaft könnte die erste sein, die diesem Schrecken ein Ende bereitet. Daher sind meine zwei Fragen: Erstens, wird sich Irland dafür einsetzen, dass wir den historischen Irrtum des Verbrennerverbots hier und jetzt korrigieren?
Und zweitens, wird sich Irland dafür einsetzen, dass diese radikal ökosozialistische Idee der Zwangselektrifizierung der Firmenflotten dorthin kommt, wo sie hingehört, nämlich entsorgt im nächsten Müllkübel.
Charles Etgen
Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Ministers, for being with us in the TRAN Committee. I want to say first, good luck to your presidency, to you, but first and foremost to the team, because it's people doing the job, right? And I'm sure that you will have a lot to do, and I can assure you that you have people in the TRAN Committee that are willing to work with you on delivering tangible results for the people in our constituencies. I would like to follow up, Minister Kenny, on a topic that you have mentioned, which is weights and dimensions.
It's a file that is blocked since a long time, and this due to, how to put it, different views in big member states. So I would like to hear a little bit from your side if you could think that limiting cross-border to six-axle combinations could be a way forward in bridging the different positions of member states, because this would limit it to a smaller number of trucks and at the same time would not put the infrastructure so much into danger as this is feared by some. I would like to encourage you as well to look onto topics, into files that are not in first place in charge of the transport minister, because there are a lot of files that have a lot of impact on transport, on our economy, and I think particularly on ETS.
And I would like to hear from your side if you would agree that enlarging the scope of ETS in the aviation sector to outside of the European Union would endanger a good cooperation with third countries because it's a question of level playing field and we have heard very harsh reactions already in some partner third countries in view of this possible enlargement. And then maybe lastly on automotive, clean corporate vehicles has already been mentioned. This might go as well to Minister Burke because it has impact on rental of of cars. And we all know when we go somewhere we would like to have an easy use of a of a car that we rent. But if we put the fleets into into this all-electric way, this might be harmful for tourism on the one hand, but on the other hand, I think we should think twice if we want to put a regulation on a sector where until now we have had no regulation at all and we are discussing about cutting red tape and reducing bureaucracy, instead we are inventing new regulations.
Kai Tegethoff
Thank you very much, Mr. Teketoff.
Thank you, dear ministers, thanks for being with us here today. I was very pleased to see in the Irish presidency program that the also here today from you that the files of the passenger package are listed as one of your transport priorities. As Parliament's rapporteur on the rail ticketing regulation, I truly believe that this is a file where we can deliver something very concrete for citizens. For passengers, this is not an abstract market file, it's about making it easier to find, compare and to book rail journeys across borders. And it is about avoiding the situation where people need several apps, several tickets and still don't know what happens if they in the end miss a connection.
I think we can all agree that this package responds to something citizens have been expecting for years already, which is simpler booking, clearer information and stronger protection when they travel. Parliament will take this work very seriously and I also hope that Council will also move with the necessary ambition there.
My first question is therefore on the timeline of this. How do you intend to organize work on the rail ticketing regulation and also in the wider context on the whole passenger package in Council? And does the presidency already have a position on the rail ticketing regulation or on the package as a whole? And my second question is on the multimodal passenger rights. Does the presidency, now that after nine or ten months we already started the trilogue and just concluded the air passenger rights and the enforcement of passenger rights files, does the presidency now intend to resume the work on this file or do you see, for example, in any way a connection to, for example, the passenger package?
Thank you.
Thank you very much. Now I will give the floor to our ministers for ten minutes, I think, each one. Okay, you have the floor. We start from Mr. Kenny. Thank you.
Seán Canney
First of all, I want to thank everybody for their contributions and I suppose there's some commonality in some of the questions that were asked.
But the first thing I want to say to Jens is in relation to the CEF funding. As I said in my presentation we stand ready to take on the negotiation of CEF. And what I would be encouraging everybody to do is to get the MFF sorted as quickly as possible so that we can actually take what we need to do. I had expected that we would be negotiating CEF right now at this stage. So I would encourage everybody to maybe agree the MFF as quickly as possible so that we can actually progress the CEF which is of vital importance to us.
That's the first thing I would say. So I think it's important that we need, you know, we talk about all the things we want to do but we also need to know where the budget is coming from. It's very important. In relation to Johan and others who mentioned the roadworthiness package, again I think it's important to say it is a priority. The roadworthiness package is a priority for us.
The first trilogue was on the 2nd of July. It was a very positive engagement. Progress is being made and it is our view that we will work to close out this and reach an agreement throughout our term. And we will not leave any stone unturned in actually to try and achieve that.
So we are determined to bring that one to conclusion. The next one I think was the in relation to the air services regulation. We do actually really agree and recognize the importance of maintaining a competitive, resilient and well-connected aviation sector. And we look forward to examining this file during our presidency. And I understand that as soon as it is published, we will actually take it on board and do the study on it and engage with people on that.
I'm just going through my notes here to the clean corporate vehicles. Again, there's general support for the greening of corporate vehicles. The Council do not have a position yet on it. It is an important element in the wider automotive package. And I think this file is linked to other files and it's linked to other files progressing as well in the automotive package.
So again, we intend to pursue that with due diligence to make sure that we make as much progress as we can with that file. The CO2 standards for cars and vans, it was raised there again.
Again, no consensus at Council yet. Two opposing, what I would call, views have emerged. It's a key element in the EU climate policy, and it's important that we reach agreement in the interest of both the industry and consumers on this particular file, and we will continue to work to do that. And it's also, as was pointed out, it is important about as well to preserve the competitiveness of the automobile industry in Europe as well, and I listened to what you're saying there. So we will look forward to working with everybody to try and achieve a consensus on that throughout our presidency, and we're aware of the difficulties that are there.
Weights and dimensions. Again, it's a long-running file dating back to 2023. It's important again for both decarbonisation and also for road safety.
So we also acknowledge that safety considerations must always come first, but we will continue the technical engagement in September with a view to identifying pathways to an agreement. And we also welcome the constructive engagement of Parliament as discussions continue on this particular file, which again we would like to see being finalized within our presidency as well. And the emission ETS, the Commission view was expected on the 17th of July and now that has been reviewed and we may have it this week. So we await the publication of the Commission's review of it. We acknowledge the need for an effective climate action here whilst safeguarding again Europe's competitiveness.
And I think I said this during my, it is important that when we are talking about decarbonization, we are not actually sacrificing competitiveness for decarbonization. We have to work in tandem on both to make sure both progress together and we will continue to keep that in mind. The passenger package, yeah, this is a presidency priority for us and it delivers directly to the passenger, to the citizen of Europe. And I think that's fundamental and it is one of the themes we have in transport and also in our general presidency.
So transport operators can benefit from fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory market conditions. The key challenge is again striking the right balance between the passenger protection and the workable rules for operators and platforms as well. But we will continue to work with that and accept that the citizen comes first. Multimodal passenger rights, again that was raised by, not quite sure, is it Karleskind? We support the development of the multimodal travel across Europe.
We should ensure there's a clear and consistent legal framework for passengers and operators alike. And I hope we will bring in this file to conclusion within our presidency as well and look forward to working with yourselves in the Parliament here as well. I think I may have covered most of the issues raised there and just to thank you and I'll hand you over to Minister Burke.
Okay, then Minister Burke, you have the floor.
Peter Burke
Thank you very much, Cathaoirleach.
Thank you very much, members. Just in relation to MEP Ohkane who raised a number of issues around the cross-border car rentals, obviously we're expecting this file by the end of the year and critically Ireland's presidency looks forward to examining it in detail when it arrives. And obviously we'll take a lead role for working with the working party group of the Council, which will be critical. So once we get the file, we'll be able to adjudicate more on it.
So we will start now the second round of the questions. We have nine requests, nine speakers. I will ask you to keep the time one minute each, please. Maybe the majority of the issues have been covered, I don't know. So we start with Mr. Jonski for one minute each.
Thank you very much.
Dariusz Joński
Okay, 60 seconds. Okay, thank you very much, Chair. I have one question about military mobility because it's a key element of Europe's defense readiness and creation of a military Schengen. Will the Irish presidency commit to using the mandate to bring the trilogue negotiation to a successful conclusion and deliver a final agreement before the end of your presidency? Thank you.
Thank you very much. Monsieur François Calfon.
François Kalfon
Oui, je vais m'exprimer en français sur la question des flottes d'entreprises. Alors j'ai entendu que des gens disaient à quel point c'était terrible de, c'était un retour en arrière de décarboner les voitures. Je pense résolument le contraire. Le changement climatique a fait 2000 morts dans mon pays avec la canicule et un tiers de ce pays, plus de 400 feux sont en cours. Donc je voudrais quand même qu'on prenne au sérieux la question du carbone et donc de la décarbonation.
D'un autre point de vue, les perspectives du Boston Consulting Group nous parlent de 100 000 emplois perdus en Europe et de plusieurs usines, une usine sur trois qui peut fermer. La question est donc non pas de retarder la décarbonation mais de combler le retard entre la Chine qui a 10 ans d'avance et l'industrie européenne. Donc je pense qu'il faut tenir ferme sur cet objectif de décarbonation et je vais vous poser une question toute simple. Est-ce que la présidence irlandaise va soutenir ce texte puisque 60 % des voitures sont vendues par le biais des flottes d'entreprises avec une question encore plus précise : quel est le calendrier du Conseil sur le paquet automobile et quelles sont à vos yeux les voies de passage pour trouver un accord entre les 27 entre décarbonation et compétitivité ? Voilà, je vous remercie.
Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, please.
Cynthia Ní Mhurchú
Go raibh míle maith agat, a Chathaoirligh Elizabeth. I will speak as Gaeilge if you'd like to put on your earphones. Tá mo cheist á cur agam ar an Aire Burke, go raibh míle maith agat as ucht do chur i láthair ar maidin. Tá mo cheist ag cur i láthair ar an Aire Burke agus baineann sé le cúrsaí taistil agus nuálaíocht sa turasóireacht. A Aire, tá tábhacht ar leith ag baint leis an turasóireacht in Éirinn, mar is eol duit.
Ach ní hamháin sin, tá an turasóireacht ag tacú leis na milliúin post atá faoi cheannas gnólachtaí beaga agus meánmhéide agus atá ina gcnámh droma d'eacnamaíocht áitiúil san Eoraip. Agus ag an am céanna, tá straitéis nua don turasóireacht inbhuanaithe á hullmhú ag an gCoimisiún, mar a luaigh tú. Ach níl aon chiste tiomnaithe ann fós chun tacú le taisteal turasóireachta nuálach agus comhordú seirbhísí fáilte.
Agus gan amhras, tá sé níos fearr agus níos éasca anois ná mar a bhí sé riamh. Tá sé níos deacra anois do na daoine atá ag obair san earnáil iompair. Tá sé níos deacra anois do na daoine atá ag obair san earnáil iompair. Tá sé níos deacra anois do na daoine atá ag obair san earnáil iompair. Tá sé níos deacra anois do na daoine atá ag obair san earnáil iompair.
Tá sé níos deacra anois do na daoine atá ag obair san earnáil iompair. Tá sé níos deacra anois do na daoine atá ag obair san earnáil iompair. Agus guím gach rath ort i rith an uachtaránachta. Go raibh maith agat.
Nina Carberry
Go raibh maith agat, Chair, and go raibh maith agat, Minister Kenny and Minister Burke, for being here today. Minister Kenny, you mentioned the European port strategy in your remarks, and it's also welcome to see the recent publication of Ireland's national ports policy with a clear call for a new port on the east coast. So I might ask what concrete follow-up does the presidency intend to deliver by December on the European port strategy, and in particular, how will it ensure a clear link between the port strategy and the future of the Connecting Europe Facility? And also, in particular, how will the presidency seek to protect funding for cross-border TEN-T projects and ensure island member states continue to receive support?
And then obviously you've talked about the greening corporate fleets as well and the concerns I have there. Maybe Minister Burke, maybe the knock-on effect to tourism, maybe you might just the concerns I have around the greening corporate fleets and what that could concerns for the tourism side of things. And then for Minister Burke, just turning to tourism, I would like to talk about the Commission's sustainable tourism strategy, which has been delayed. It was published, once it's published, could you give us more detail on and what the Council conclusions may focus on? And maybe to say what concrete outcome do you hope to secure from the European Tourism Forum that you're hopefully hosting in November?
And I'm glad to hear you mention the importance of skills. I'd love to hear more how the presidency plans to advance this strategy in relation to skills and quality jobs. So thank you very much. Thank you.
Gracias, presidenta. Señores ministros, nos alegra tenerlos aquí y les deseo muchos éxitos en esta presidencia. Señor Canney, escuchando sus prioridades, hemos oído hablar de competitividad, de descarbonización, de seguridad, de sostenibilidad.
Rosa Serrano Sierra
Son cuestiones vinculadas y relacionadas muy directamente con la normativa de la directiva de pesos y dimensiones. Su programa se basa en la hoja de ruta Una Europa, un mercado, y esta revisión también es una pieza clave para completar el mercado único. Porque Europa necesita normas armonizadas que garanticen una competencia justa y reglas transfronterizas claras para empresas y transportistas. Si podemos transportar más mercancías con un solo camión en lugar de dos, reduciremos costes, emisiones y congestión, además de mejorar la seguridad vial. Todos sabemos que mantener una normativa fragmentada solo aumenta carga administrativa, genera inseguridad jurídica y perjudica tanto a las empresas como a los consumidores.
Por ello, nos complace saber que reconoce la importancia de esta normativa, pero necesitamos también el compromiso y el impulso por parte de la presidencia en esta revisión. Muchas gracias.
Jeannette Baljeu
Thank you, ministers, and for Mr. Canney, two points.
You mentioned the port strategy, and for the Renew group, I will be shadow on this file, looking forward to work on a reaction from Parliament's side. But of course, it's very important that we also start looking on what we can do on reviewing regulations. So what would be the time path that you foresee? And as a second point, you mentioned the IMO as well. I was part of the IMO delegation from Parliament for the last General Assembly.
We saw some good progress towards hopefully next year international agreement on the CO2 reduction. What could Parliament do to help you to, in these crucial months, upcoming months, to push forward to an international agreement? Thank you so much.
Speaker 19
Thank you, Chair. Dear ministers, thank you both for joining us today.
In its conclusions on the EU ports strategy adopted last month, the Council highlighted the need to recognize the importance of ports in the outermost regions. These regions depend heavily on maritime transport for access to essential goods, as they often have no viable alternative modes of transport, and there is a risk to an increase in the cost of living for citizens. As you know, under the extension of the ETS maritime transport, the outermost regions benefit from a derogation until the end of 2030. I'm from Madeira Island, and this is something that I'm sure you understand very well, being from an island member state. So against this, will you support in the forthcoming revision of the ETS an extension of the existing derogation so that the outermost regions have sufficient time and adequate conditions to decarbonize without undermining their connectivity and territorial cohesion?
Thanks.
Thank you very much. And last but not least, Mrs. Costanzo. Thank you.
Vivien Costanzo
So you were here just for more or less one hour, so you could listen to all these different positions, especially to the automotive package, but you were lucky because you could listen to the English translation. I had to listen to it in German, so I had the exact words in my ear. So that's why you know, or now you understand, how difficult it will be in this Parliament to find a compromise and a solution on this automotive package.
That's why I have two questions. First question is do you see these three different files as a package? And second François Caifort also asked a question about the majority so you now you know how difficult it is to find a position in the Parliament how do you want to find a position inside the Council until the end of the year? Thanks.
Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi
Sorry Mr. Andersen I didn't see you it's contre-lumière I apologize you have the floor.
Asger Christensen
Thank you very much and thank you for a good presentation I will speak Danish. 25 % af al den transport vi har det er fødevarerelateret. Sikkerhedsspørgsmål omkring det at fødevarerne kommer frem rettidigt og at der til stadighed er fødevarer på hylderne det er helt afgørende. Det er afgørende vi har en effektiv transport bæredygtigt og CO2-reducerende uanset om det er søtransport eller det er luftvejen eller det er på vejen. I de nordiske lande der har vi gode erfaringer med big trucks.
Jeg vil spørge det tjekkiske formandskab om de vil være med til at fremme big trucks i resten af Europa.
Hvis vi gør det, så kan vi reducere vores CO2-belastning med omkring 25 %. Det vil betyde rigtig meget på fremkommelighed på vejene, og det vil betyde en meget, meget stor CO2-reduktion. Tak.
Thank you very much. Is any other colleague want the floor? No. Okay, now we start Mr. Kenny. You have the floor, sir.
Seán Canney
Thank you all very much. We got nine speakers in there. The first thing I want to address is in relation to military mobility. Military mobility is critical for Europe's defense readiness, and we must enhance our ability to swiftly move troops and equipment across the Union and to its external borders. This is a priority for the Irish presidency, and we look forward to fruitful inter-institutional discussions on this.
And our aim is to reach agreement by the end of our presidency. And tomorrow we have a trilogue on this starting tomorrow morning.
So we are the intent is to get it concluded within our presidency. The ports was raised by Nina and others in relation to and I want to first of all say that Cyprus did a huge amount of work in during their presidency in bringing forward the strategy EU strategy on ports. Now the focus is on implementing that. And when we're implementing the strategy we need to make sure that there is funding available. And that's why I say it and I repeat it again if the MMF is agreed I am willing we are willing as a presidency to start negotiations straight away if we're allowed to do that in terms of CEF so that we can actually reach conclusion within our time our term of office.
I think the opportunity is there for the ports. It's there for the hinterland to the ports. And I think it's important for the TEN-T as you mentioned and others mentioned the ports and their how important they are. So I'd be saying to everybody settle on the the main cake as I call it and we will not be found wanting in trying to in negotiating and agreeing the CEF funding which is vital in order that this strategy which we have agreed can be realized as quickly as possible.
There was the weights and dimensions, as I said before, that is a long-running file. I think I answered that earlier, but just say we are minded to get on with this file as quickly as possible. It's an important file for the road safety and decarbonization, and we welcome the constructive engagement with Parliament. And we also say that we should consider where we can making progress for the greening of heavy vehicles, and I think that's important as well. So we look forward to working with everybody on that.
And the IMO net-zero framework is important that we do deliver. It's essential, in fact, for the maritime sector, if the maritime sector is to play its key role in the global energy transition, that we have a sustainable IMO strategy on the reduction of greenhouse gases. And we welcome the significant progress that has been made towards developing the first global reductions, and we remain committed to building the broadest possible support to ensure adoption of the net-zero framework in December 2026.
And we strongly support the multilateral discussions that are taking place and we will chair coordination meetings with the partners to maintain momentum and to deepen the consensus in relation to that. And lastly, yes, somebody mentioned about catching up with China. And I think it's important practically to say that the way we will do that is by supporting competitiveness and making ourselves more efficient and making sure that we can actually become better at what we have been doing and do it a lot more efficiently so that we can compete. And that's part of what we're our themes for the for the presidency to deliver on the competitiveness. And I think that's that's it for me here.
I hand you back to Peter.
Gabh mo leithscéal, a Chathaoirligh. Tá dhá cheist agam ó MEP Ní Mhurchú agus MEP Carberry.
Peter Burke
First of all, for MEP Ní Mhurchú, obviously innovation is going to be key on behalf of our tourism and sustainable strategy. I think it's key to the work we'll be doing through the Competitive Council, and it's one of the areas of agenda that we set out on our recent Competitive Council where we were setting out our priorities, particularly under the One Europe, One Market roadmap, which will be key in breaking down the barriers that we have really seen ever reaching over the single market, of which we have to work on, and particularly in businesses to reduce the regulatory burden, which is quite significant, support SME growth, which is very important, and help businesses innovate, which is the lifeblood of businesses as they work on innovation to support their efforts. So our presidency will be very much focused on that regard. I think in relation to our contribution to research innovation, obviously the work we do in innovation framework for Horizon Europe will be very much front and central in the European Innovation Act and will support the development and deployment of new technologies, enabling tourism and business destinations to become more innovative and to focus critically on the relevance for tourism and how important it is for so many rural communities and create huge opportunities. And that's the work we'll continue on the trio program, which is so important for the presidency as well.
And for MEP Nina Carberry, obviously it's critical in terms of how our strategy will be brought forward by late this year. I think it's very important that we do deliver it under our presidency.
I think it's critical we build on the European Council adoption of the May 2026 resolution during the Cypriot presidency. And also when we look at that tourism is 10% of Europe's GDP. We've 4.6 million businesses which operate in it, about 26 million jobs, and which is so critical that in so many of our countries it drives so much of that activity in rural areas. So first of all, I think we need strong evidence-based policymaking, so the data will be central to that. And that's why we really welcome the tourism statistics framework.
That will be very important to set out that agenda when that review is completed. Secondly, I think digitalization is going to be so important and critical in terms of how the research is conducted for people making choices in a modern era to choose where to go for tourism. And we've so much to offer from our natural heritage and our attractions in Europe. It's important that our SMEs have that digital capacity. I think that will be very, very important.
Skills is also critical because I think it's important that people see a strong career pathway in tourism and that they can be proud of that. As one which I think the Irish presidency will really focus on is high-quality jobs in the tourism sector and to provide the skills and the training and the ongoing lifelong learning that's required to ensure that people can grow in relation to that.
Obviously, we also have a lot of work to do in relation to the short-term rental regulation and the developments and the data that that will bring for the Affordable Housing Act as well will be very welcome because that goes hand in glove with your evidence-based policymaking, which will be very important and a challenge that some communities have in relation to tourism numbers and how we get an even dispersal across various jurisdictions and highlight, you know, the opportunity in some areas that haven't got that opportunity, which can provide balance to countries and meet their needs. So I look forward to working with our presidency and our colleagues when we get a very good, significant strategy that really, really demonstrates how important tourism is at the heart of the European Union.
Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi
Thank you very much. So now, dear ministers, thank you both for joining us this afternoon and for taking time to answer our questions. On behalf of the TRAN Committee, I wish you every success during your presidency and look forward to its achievements with great interest and high expectations. You can count on a constructive cooperation with our committee, and I'm sure that we can count on the Irish presidency when it comes to finding compromises on key legislative issues. Thank you very much.
Speaker 23
Take your seat please. We will have a break for 10 minutes only please. Thank you.
Colleagues, take your seats, please. Mr. Danielsson.
Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi
So let's now move to Mr. Danielsson. We start. Our item, which is exchange of views with the IMO and the European Commission on the situation of the seafarers stranded in Persian Gulf. The de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz has not only caused the largest disruption to the global oil market in its history and impacted other supply chains, it has also left around 20,000 civilian seafarers stranded on their vessels for several months. The International Maritime Organization has developed a large-scale evacuation plan together with different states involved and with the shipping industry that is currently halted due to the security situation.
We would like to discuss about the situation on the stranded seafarers, the efforts to free them, getting the shipping sector up and running again, and what lessons can be learned from this. I'm happy to welcome the IMO Secretary-General, Mr. Arsenio Dominguez. He's connected online. Is he connected? Okay.
Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi
Good afternoon.
Thank you for coming to our committee for the first time. It's, we haven't been in touch for a long time since our last meeting, but you will speak in our committee for the first time. You are in London, as I know. And we thank Mrs. Fotini Ioannidou, who is with us, Director of Waterborne Transport in the Commission's DG MOVE. And now, Mr. Dominguez, you, we are particularly honored that you address this committee, as I said before, for the first time, and you have the floor, sir, for 15 minutes.
Thank you very much.
Arsenio Dominguez
Thank you. Good afternoon to all. And thank you, Chair, once again for the opportunity to get to speak to you and the Transport Committee this time, with the members of a session of the Transport Committee. And I also want to reiterate my appreciation to the European Parliament for that continuous engagement and support with the work of IMO, this time in particular with the situation on the Strait of Hormuz, with emphasis on how innocent seafarers continue to be affected.
And I want to highlight that point. The safety and security and well-being of the seafarers continues to be not only my priority, but that of the International Maritime Organization. Now, when it comes to the Strait of Hormuz itself, the situation remains volatile, particularly after what has been happening in the last few days. Nevertheless, for me it's important to also recognize the progress that has been made since the conflict started. There is a memorandum of understanding between the two parties, both Iran and the United States, which continues to form the basis for any further conversations, clarifications, negotiations.
And this is one of those areas that not only IMO with its membership is looking for how we can contribute, particularly when it comes to the implementation of the safety of navigations around the framework, but also for the parties that are engaged in these negotiations.
Now, I because the situation right now continues to be volatile, I keep my message and reiterate my message to industry operators, ship owners, ship operators and flag state to request their vessels not to transit the Strait of Hormuz. At present, too many casualties have been experienced, too many ships have been recently attacked and there's no security and it's not safe to transit the Strait of Hormuz. Lives of seafarers should not be put at risk. And of course there's an increased situation when it comes to the safety, the environmental protection and the future of the Strait of Hormuz. So it is important to restrain and be cautious at this time.
Freedom of navigation is another topic that I will be highlighting, particularly the respect in accordance to international law. Shipping has demonstrated for decades that it's resilient. Not more so that in the last few years when we've been dealing with several conflicts and the geopolitics continue to use this important trade route in order to affect the outcomes of those conflicts.
And of course, we noticed during the times of the Red Sea crisis how we can divert, we can find new routes for operation, we can assist the seafarers, provide operational guidance. However, when it comes to the type of actions that are taking place against ships right now inside the Strait of Hormuz, it's very difficult for us not to take a very cautious approach because seafarers are not trained for combat and ships are not prepared to defend against attacks such as those coming from drones and missiles. And this is where it's important that a global stance is taken in order to protect shipping because the negative effects, apart from the innocent seafarers, then it's also on the economy around the world, food security. And for as resilient as we are, if we take the Strait of Hormuz, we are not able to supply the 20% of crude oil that comes from this region, similarly 19% of liquefied natural gas, as well as 13% of chemicals and fertilizers required for food security. That is something that the organization is asking beyond the maritime sector to recognize and to support us in finding solutions.
Now when it comes to the seafarers, we still have around 6,000 seafarers that have been trapped there since the beginning of the conflict. During the implementation of the evacuation plan, and this was a measure adopted in March by the extraordinary session of the IMO Council, between the 23rd and the 26th of June, we managed to actually evacuate nearly 3,000 seafarers in over 130 vessels. Some further transits took place after we paused the evacuation framework, but as I said, once a vessel was attacked and there were no guarantees that the vessels were not going to be targeted, I couldn't put the life of seafarers at risk and is the reason why as of now the evacuation framework remains paused. At the same time, the still support that it's needs to be provided to the seafarers and the ships in the region, particularly when it comes to supplies from food, water, as well as the necessary fuel for the vessels to continue to be seaworthy, and medical support whenever it is required.
Right now, the littoral states have been very good, and I want to appreciate that, the support that they provide, also the companies, shipowners and ship operators, and the countries of the nationalities of the seafarers. And when possible, the next step would also be to provide crew changes. Now, a parenthesis here. There are cases of crew changes that can take place. At the same time, seafarers should not be forced to go and operate in a conflict region.
So that's why no seafarer should be criticized for not accepting any contracts, and they should not be a mark in their CV for the future. But at the same time, any opportunities for the repatriation or crew changes for seafarers that have been trapped in the region for a long period of time, it would also be welcome. That's one of the areas that we're also discussing, particularly with the relevant parties. Something that I've been looking at is the conversations with the seafarers, and one of the key messages that they have for us is that they feel forgotten and sometimes even abandoned. The reality is that when they turn on the news, most of the focus is on the negative impact that this conflict is having in the economy rather than on the seafarers themselves.
And of course, people don't know the hardship that they're going through, the stress and the difficulties. They are supporting each other, they are rationing their supplies, and sometimes even sharing them from ship to ship. Those are the messages that I'm getting, and I would really appreciate your support not only in highlighting the importance of the seafarers, but also the fact that we need to put them first. When it comes to the evacuation plan of IMO, as I mentioned, we have paused right now. We're still in conversations with the relevant parties, and once the situation de-escalate and there's confirmation that with either route that will be used, and these are temporary routes, northern route or southern route in the Strait of Hormuz, we will be able to then move again forward with the ships transiting eastbound in the Strait of Hormuz.
When it comes to the traffic separation scheme that was adopted by IMO back in 1968, the confirmation or the information that we have right now is that there's still hazards, particularly mines in that traffic separation scheme.
Reason why we work with the parties that have established temporary routes, Oman and Iran, in order to use them. And also I have spoken to the countries and once we have de-escalated and the conflict has come to an end, all those parties have the right in accordance with the IMO procedures to make submissions to the Maritime Safety Committee for us to evaluate if additional routes would be appropriate and relevant to put in place in order to assist the navigation around the Strait of Hormuz. This goes in line as well with the comments that have been made in relation to fees or tolls around the Strait of Hormuz. The reality is that the message is very clear. The IMO Council last week adopted a resolution that upholds the principle of freedom of navigation and the fact that there's no international law applicable to the introduction of tolls on straits that are used for international transit or international navigation.
And this is a message that I will not stop reiterating. That it's in accordance with UNCLOS, it's in accordance with the rules that we follow here at IMO. There are mechanisms that we can look into to assist the management of the Strait of Hormuz by the relevant parties. And this is related to protection of the marine environment, aids of navigation, or enhanced safety and security, including the training. We have mechanisms around the world, such as the cooperation mechanisms in the Strait of Malacca and Singapore.
This is a voluntary measure. It is supported not only by the countries in the region, but the users of the straits. And it's something that we can look at a later stage in order to find ways to bring back that coordination in the operations in the Strait of Hormuz, maintaining the jurisdictions that belong to the countries, but also the fact that it will be in accordance to international law. And then just to conclude, I would like to highlight in particular how the Strait of Hormuz is a vital shipping route. How it is important that we work step by step in de-escalating the current situation, in working with the parties, those particularly involved in the conflict, in order to focus on how we can not only reopen the Strait of Hormuz in a safe manner, but also allow the evacuation trade followed by the important trade that needs to flow from there and into the rest of the world.
At IMO, we are ready to continue that engagement. I appreciate the support from the European Union and the countries that are also part of other mechanisms or other gatherings, such as the Coalition of the Willing led by the United Kingdom and France, with several other countries and the European Union, in order to assist the countries, including with assets that can provide sufficient support for us not only to bring back the safety requirements that we need to transit the Strait, but also that cooperation that it will be necessary in order to bring back not only the trust, but also the full trade in that region. Thank you once again for this opportunity. I would leave it here, but of course I would be happy to take any of your questions later on and, as we have done in the past, maintain this very good collaboration and dialogue between your committee and IMO. Thank you, Madam Chair, once again.
Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi
We thank you very much, Mr. Dominguez.
And now, Mrs. Ioannidou, you have the floor for five minutes, please.
Fotini Ioannidou
Chair, honorable members, thank you very much for the invitation to exchange views on the situation in the Strait, and more specifically on the situation of seafarers there. Let me start by expressing our strong commitment to multilateralism and also our deep appreciation to the work of Secretary-General Dominguez for his relentless efforts to protect seafarers and place their safety at the heart of this international crisis. And as Secretary-General said, we need to remember behind every vessel waiting in the Gulf, there are people. And still today, over 6,000 seafarers remain stranded at sea under conditions of uncertainty, separated from their families and continuing to provide an essential service to all of us in exceptional circumstances. They are civilian workers, they are not parties to geopolitical conflicts, and their safety remains clearly our first priority.
As Secretary General said, the security situation in the around the strait remains highly volatile. Maritime traffic is severely disrupted and there is currently no stable security environment which allows a safe return to normal transit. What our maritime surveillance, our European maritime surveillance systems tell us is that we have today around 350 vessels of EU interest in the Persian Gulf. And among them we have 100 vessels that are flagged with the flags of EU member states. This gives an indication of the scale of the challenge and Europe's direct interest in restoring maritime security.
From the very beginning of the crisis, the European Union has worked through all available diplomatic, consular and maritime channels to support member states and facilitate the safe movement of people whenever security conditions allowed it.
It is clear as well, as Secretary-General highlighted, any evacuation operation must be conducted safely and in close coordination with the coastal states. This is precisely why IMO, as the competent UN specialized agency, is the appropriate organization to lead this work. In the short period where the evacuation corridor has been organized by IMO, like between 24 and 26 of June, we have worked together, EU and IMO, and also with Member States, and there has been, I know, down 3,000 seafarers evacuated. But it is clear as well then we had some attacks and this operation stopped. And it is clear that we don't need an uncoordinated evacuation because then it's exactly what is going to happen is that we are going to exacerbate risks to the people and the ships.
And clearly the situation today is not one that allows transits in the strait and there we support the call of the Secretary-General.
I'm taking also the opportunity to reiterate our support to the safe and free reopening of the strait, opposing any permanent tolls, fees or other contributions which would condition passage. This is a very important element for us, but also for IMO. The issue was discussed at the IMO Council last week and both EU and IMO member states reaffirmed the importance of preserving freedom of navigation and also protecting seafarers. So our commitment to safe and free passage is here and very strong. It has been reiterated through the recent Council conclusions, EU Council conclusions.
So I'll stop here. I would just like to say that the Commission will continue to work with member states, with the IMO and all our international partners to support every effort to improve the safety of seafarers and to contribute to restore secure and predictable navigation in one of the world's most strategic regions. Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mrs. Ioannidou. And now we start our debate. I give the floor to Johan Danielsson for two minutes, please.
Johan Danielsson
Thank you, Chair. I think this is by all means a crucial discussion after the recent events and also the serious effect that it has on seafarers. I would also like to start by thanking IMO and the Commission for participating in this discussion. Also quite happy to hear the clear statements that we need to put seafarers first, that the safety and security is the priority of both the Commission and the IMO and that we in no way should put the life of seafarers at risk. I think this is the obvious starting point, but still important to state.
I have one question to IMO. Also happy to hear that the position of the IMO is that you should not at the moment risk the passage in the Strait of Hormuz. But do you, do the IMO believe that it also might be the time to establish a more formal international mechanism that is capable of declaring that merchant vessels should no longer enter or transit a conflict area once there is a risk to civilian seafarers that is, as it is at the moment, unacceptable, and also of ensuring then the evacuation and repatriation of crews already present in the area?
So is there a need perhaps now to consider putting a more formal mechanism in place? Thank you.
Willemien Koning
Thank you, IMO and Commission, thank you for the work that has been done. Hundreds of ships carrying around thousands of seafarers have been stranded in the Persian Gulf since the start of the conflict in the Middle East. These attacks have put innocent seafarers in serious danger. No one should have the risk to risk their life simply for doing their job. Could the IMO and the Commission further clarify what concrete measures are being taken or are planned to protect the safety and security of these seafarers and their vessels in the Persian Gulf for a longer period?
What if it will last for a very long time? And can the continued supply of food, medicines, and other essential goods to these stranded ships be guaranteed for a longer period of time? If so, how is this being coordinated and monitored? The safety of seafarers must come first. At the same time, safe shipping is essential to keep our imports and exports moving and to protect our supply chains.
What are the solutions if this will last for many more months?
Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi
Thank you very much. And now it's Madame Baljeu for the Renew.
Jeannette Baljeu
Thank you so much and thank you to the IMO and the Commission on their explanation on where they're standing. I think it's very important that we look after the seafarers. It's we're talking about people and as mentioned sometimes it's forgotten in the in the complexity of the conflict. It's important that we we look after them and keep them safe. So my question would also be we heard about rationing the food and maybe there is what would be the solutions to bring more supply to the to the ships and the seafarers?
Is that necessary already or are we aware that there is enough food on the ships? And is there maybe in another way the importance of course of free movement of ships although it's now very difficult to to discuss that but what would be other measures that could be taken? Thank you so much.
Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi
Thank you very much.
Mrs. Paulus, you want the floor for the Greens?
Jutta Paulus
Yes. Sorry for being late, I got held up in another call. And maybe it has been addressed already, but I would like to know right now, currently we're talking about the Strait of Hormuz, but unfortunately this is not the only bottleneck in global shipping that could be blocked by some actor or other. So I would be also interested in what strategies does the Commission, maybe in connection with the Member States of course, follow in order to potentially avoid such scenarios, because right now we have a really bad situation for the people involved, but we should really also think of how to prevent it. Thank you.
Thank you, Madam Chair, Commission and my colleagues. It's a pleasure that we organize this hearing and of course our dear guests from IMO and Commission.
Merja Kyllönen
When we discuss about maritime security, we often focus on shipping lines, trade flows, and energy security. However, behind every vessel are the people who make this supply chains possible, the seafarers. Today, I want to bring their situation to the center to our discussion. And thousands of seafarers continue to operate in high-risk areas, including the Strait of Hormuz. Among them are the crews serving, for example, on LNG carriers, whose work is crucial for Europe's energy security and economic resilience.
These men and women are facing extraordinary circumstances. Many have already spent months and in some cases well over six months at sea, unable to return home or see their families. Long periods away from loved ones are already one of the greatest challenges of maritime career. Now they must also work under the constant threat of military escalation, attacks, and growing regional instability. No one should have to choose between earning a living and fearing for their life.
Europe depends on these seafarers every single day.
They ensure that our homes are heated, our industries continue to operate and our economies remain connected. Yet too often their well-being receives far less attention than the cargo they transport. I want to ask from Commission, how is the Commission engaging with the shipping industry to ensure that crews are not left for extended periods in dangerous waters without adequate support or relief? And does the Commission consider existing international mechanism sufficient to protect the welfare, mental health and rights of seafarers working in conflict-affected maritime areas, or do you see the need for additional EU initiatives? And finally, I would like to stress one point.
Seafarers are not simply part of the logistic chain. They are fathers, mothers, sons and daughters. They are professionals who continue to carry out their duties under immense pressure so that Europe can maintain its energy security and global trade. They deserve not only our gratitude, but also our concrete commitment to their safety, well-being and dignity. Thank you.
Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi
Thank you very much, Mrs. Kyllönen. And now I will give the floor to our special guests for their conclusion remarks or reply.
Mr. Dominguez, are you online?
Arsenio Dominguez
Yes. Yes, I am. Thank you, Madam Chair. And I took notes of the questions and some of them have a similar or a common theme. Let me start with the first one about whether this is the appropriate time for IMO to develop a framework or a more formal mechanism for vessels entering an area of conflict.
One of the reasons why this is not a topic for conversation at present at IMO, apart from focusing on how we can solve or assist solving the problem and focusing on the seafarers, is the upholding the freedom of navigation principle. And this is required in order to keep that separation between merchant ships and anything relating to conflicts.
And it could be detrimental, particularly for countries in those conflict areas, or those that are not directly in the conflict area, but indirectly nearby, where they could be then penalized if there is an introduction of something more specific that stops vessels automatically from sailing. We saw this during the situation of piracy and armed robbery off the coast of Somalia back in 2010. And when high-risk areas were defined, the difficulties that it created in several aspects, from wellbeing to social aspects of contracts, insurance, etc. So what we are working is on the learning and the experience from this, how we can advise better through existing mechanisms, such as the International Safety Management Code, the role that the companies can take into account for this, guidance that the organization has developed for vessels to avoid these areas, and our relationship with the partners. It may be that in the future it's something that we could discuss a little bit further, but right now it's not the focus of attention in that respect.
We will need a further analysis.
When it comes to support to the seafarers, the coordination has been mostly between us with the social partners, the International Transport Workers' Federation, they have direct contact with the companies, with the seafarers, as well as the representatives from the industry, the different associations. And we meet on a regular basis with them in order to maintain records and information of the most affected vessels, what additional assistance could be provided. But of course, there's still limitations in relation to supplies because with the challenges on trade in the region and even from the countries, prices are going up for them. They have their own national situations and for the longer that this conflict goes on, the more difficult it is going to be for seafarers to also receive the necessary support. This is where another concern that is relevant is the possible increase of cases of abandonment of those vessels that for five or more months will be there and of course some shipowners will start having financial difficulties.
Here again, further work we'll be carrying out particularly with the International Transport Workers' Federation. It's not possible for me to exactly give you an answer on for how longer this will go or how longer the vessels can actually go on because it's all relevant to how much we can actually continue to provide that support.
But let me reiterate that all the social partners, shipowners and ship operators and in particularly the countries in the region have maintained that support. Um, when it comes to solutions to bring supplies to the vessels, again this is all connected in any op- now that air transportation has also become more established or at least re-established, reinstated in the region, that allows for additional provisions and support. But we still link to finding a solution for the parties to continue to work on multilateralism in order to actually bring back a positive outcome or positive answers to the questions that we have on the table. I would not want to be subjective but we really are facing a challenge as if this goes on for a lot longer it will be even more difficult for us to provide support to the seafarers.
Fotini Ioannidou
Yes, thank you.
What I'd like to say first from the outset is that, well, when the crisis started, we have been in regular contact with all shipping associations and everybody involved, including on the employee side, to understand what is the situation. And so this engagement lasted quite some time and, I mean, all sides, they know at any point they can call on us where we can support one or the other thing in this crisis. When it comes to food supplies, according to our information, this is being organized through the coastal states and in terms of, I mean, changes, crew changes, these are happening. So we have no evidence, and this question of food supplies has been also supported through our colleagues in DG ECHO that keep an eye on this, that supplies do work. In terms of, in terms of the farewell of seafarers, it is clear that the most, the better, best answer we can give to them is to support their safe evacuation.
And that is why we are working with the IMO in order to support IMO to make it happen.
But of course, it doesn't work only on IMO, but on a much broader international circumstances. Staying with the seafarers, I would like to say that for us, seafarers are key workers. We have repeated as Commission, we have sent it again and again. It's not, they are not a worker like anybody else. And it is true that they are working under extremely difficult circumstances.
Now, referring back to our dialogue with everybody involved, shipping and also the unions, we don't have any evidence that things are not respected when it comes to length of contracts. The unions do know that at any point they see a problem, they can report to us. But we have no evidence today that there has been problems in terms of respecting contracts.
At least we don't know this. So, but when it comes to mental health, it is true that these are particularly difficult circumstances. We as Commission put the question of mental health in the center of our work when it comes to legislation, to international standards, etc. So be assured, but here we are speaking of a very specific situation, which is a war situation. What I'd like also to say in respect, okay, we don't have visibility on how long this conflict, none of us, will last.
And it is clear that as Commission, we need to foresee on all scenarios. We have already issued a communication that is linked to the questions of energy, to questions of jet fuel price, etc. It is a situation that we need to follow very closely and adjust.
But it is clear as well that as Europe, we have reacted quite well through different set of measures, diversification, etc. But what it is also very clear is that we need to make sure that we are going through with the biggest possible strength in our efforts to decarbonize our economy. The crisis demonstrated that for Europe, greening of its economy is an imperative, and we took also the lessons when it comes to transport fuels, for example, aviation and maritime. But looking at the question of what strategy, because I heard your intervention, Mrs. Paulus, and indeed you are perfectly right that this is not the only place which is a strategic choke point. In order to not create a bad precedent, the first and foremost thing is that we get out from this crisis without having to pay the toll of tolls.
So it is super important that we get out of this crisis without surrendering to the fact that in such situations, I mean, we accept.
Ask anything about this video — I analyse its transcript to answer.