POLISH PRESIDENCY PRESENTS ITS TRANSPORT PRIORITIES
On 29 January, the Polish Minister of Infrastructure, Dariusz Klimczak, presented the transport priorities of the Polish Presidency to the European Parliament’s Transport Committee. Securing Europe from external threats is a key priority of the Presidency. The minister emphasised the need to strengthen the European transport sector against external risks, highlighting the importance of dual-use infrastructure for civilian and military applications, the protection of transport operators from attacks, and the critical role of cybersecurity in safeguarding transport systems. These issues will be central to discussions at the informal EU Transport Ministers' summit in Warsaw on 17-18 March.
Beyond security, the Polish Presidency aims to enhance the competitiveness of EU transport by simplifying European transport regulations, recognising excessive administrative burdens as a challenge for operators. The Minister also stressed the need for long-term financial support for transport network development, advocating for sustained investment under the next EU budget framework.
Regarding ongoing legislative files, the Presidency will focus on concluding trilogue negotiations on the Rail Capacity Regulation, the European Maritime Safety Agency, and the Directive on driving licenses. Additionally, discussions on river information services will begin once the European Parliament adopts its position. However, MEPs expressed concern over the lack of ambition to advance key legislative reviews, including the revision of the Combined Transport Directive and the Weights & Dimensions Directive. Klimczak briefly acknowledged these files, citing their complexity and the divergent positions within the Council.
CLECAT welcomes the Polish Presidency’s focus on transport resilience and cybersecurity. However, the absence of crucial files - such as the upcoming trilogues on CountEmissions EU - from the priority list raises concerns. CLECAT will continue engaging with the Presidency to ensure industry needs, particularly in multimodal transport and sustainable logistics, are addressed.