T
o achieve effectiveness, the Greek presi-
dency will focus on specific issues, which
will be decided in close cooperation with
the European Commission and the European
Parliament. In the Transport Sector, following the
“Europe 2020” strategy and the vision to achieve
high levels of employment, a low carbon economy,
productivity, social cohesion and fair competition
,
the Hellenic presidency will seek to contribute to
the implementation of these objectives. During this
period, work will be carried forward in the fields of
Land Transport, Aviation and Intermodal Transport.
In Land Transport, the –highly important– fourth
railway package aims at enhancing the efficiency
and competiveness of the railway sector and
helping create a single EU transport area.
Moreover, the Greek presidency will begin dis-
cussions in the Council, with a view to adopting a
Regulation Proposal for the establishment of a
Joint Undertaking to manage the «Shift2Rail»
programme. Its main objective is to accelerate the
penetration of technological innovations that will
fully support the needs of a truly integrated and
interoperable EU railway market.
In the Road Transport sector, the Greek
Presidency will start negotiations for the develop-
ment of an interoperable e-CALL throughout the
European Union, aimed at reducing the number
of fatalities and the severity of injuries caused by
road accidents, through the faster response of
emergency services.
In addition, we plan to start working on the pro-
posal for the revision of the Directive on vehicles’
weights and dimensions, which aims at improving
the energy efficiency of heavy vehicles and
increasing the levels of road safety.
In the Aviation sector, our country will continue its
work on passenger rights, in order to ensure bet-
Trade with Greece
40
By Michail Papadopoulos, Deputy Minister of
Infrastructure, Transport & Networks
Transport and Communications are among
the European policies where particular
emphasis will be placed during the Greek
presidency, by both the Greek government
and the European Commission, as these
issues affect the daily lives of millions of
citizens across the European Union.
The Greek Presidency
will Emphasize on
Transport and
Communications
