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Special coverage
The economic crisis – The EU’s response
The European Union is responding to the global economic crisis through actions on different levels.
Fast facts, background information, progress and more in depth information on main EU issues
Latest stories - Transport and travel
Single Sky: Commission acts to unblock congestion in Europe's airspace
11/06/2013 - Transport and travel
The European Commission has acted to speed up the reform of Europe's air traffic control system. The Commission is looking to head off a capacity crunch as the number of flights is forecast to increase by 50% over the next 10-20 years.
Main results of the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council 
10/06/2013 - Energy and natural resources / Science and technology / Transport and travel
The Council held a debate on the role of the telecommunications and the information and communication technologies sectors within the framework of the Digital Agenda for Europe. |PHOTOS|VIDEO|2|
Commission proposes upgrade for 300 key seaports
23/05/2013 - Transport and travel
The European Commission has launched a new initiative to improve port operations and onward transport connections at 319 key seaports along Europe’s coastline. The guidelines and legal changes being proposed will help port operators upgrade their services and facilities as well as giving them more financial autonomy. |PHOTOS|
EU discusses clean transport
11/03/2013 - Energy and natural resources / Transport and travel
The Council held an exchange of views on the Commission's "Clean power for transport" initiative. The objective is to break the dependence on fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport. |PHOTOS|VIDEO|
'Smart borders': enhancing mobility and security
28/02/2013 - Justice and citizens rights / Transport and travel
The Commission proposed a 'smart border package' to speed-up, facilitate and reinforce border check procedures for foreigners travelling to the EU. |PHOTOS|VIDEO 1|2|
- Frequently asked questions
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DOCUMENT. Proposal for a Regulation establishing Registered Traveller Programme
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DOCUMENT. Proposal for a Regulation establishing an Entry/Exit System (EES)
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DOCUMENT. Proposal for a Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 562/2006 as regards the use of the Entry/Exit System
- Statement by Commissioner Cecilia Malmström
- More information on 'Smart Borders'
Parliament backs law to tone down harmful traffic noise
06/02/2013 - Environment, consumers and health / Transport and travel
Noise limits for cars would be tightened to protect public health, under a draft law voted in Parliament. MEPs also recommended introducing labels to inform consumers about new cars' noise levels and adding sound to hybrid and electric vehicles to alert pedestrians.
European Railways at a junction: the Commission adopts proposals for a Fourth Railway Package
30/01/2013 - Transport and travel
The Commission is proposing far reaching measures to encourage more innovation in EU railways by opening EU domestic passenger markets to competition, as well as substantial accompanying technical and structural reforms.
EU launches clean fuel strategy
24/01/2013 - Environment, consumers and health / Transport and travel
The European Commission announced an ambitious package of measures to ensure the build-up of alternative fuel stations across Europe with common standards for their design and use.
Road Transport: New European Driving Licence
18/01/2013 - Transport and travel
All new European driving licences will be issued according to a new format, a plastic "credit card", with a photo and standard information requirements - easy to recognise and read across the EU. All new licences will be issued in this format from January 19th 2013.
The EU updates rules on inspection of vehicles
20/12/2012 - Transport and travel
The Transport Council adopted a general approach on new rules on periodic inspection of vehicles, the so-called roadworthiness tests. The key objective of the update is to improve road safety and environmental protection. The draft directive lays down minimum requirements, which leaves member states free to impose stricter rules.
Aviation: Commission proposes new rules to prevent aircraft accidents
19/12/2012 - Transport and travel
The European Commission proposed today new rules for the better protection of air passengers, aiming to achieve a decreased number of aircraft accidents and fatalities through better use of data on occurrences.The new rules would promote more efficient exchange of information between Member States.
Environment: New rules on cleaner fuels for shipping will deliver benefits for people's health
17/12/2012 - Environment, consumers and health / Transport and travel
New environmental rules on marine fuels, entering into force on the 17 December 2012, will substantially reduce air pollution and its impacts on human health.
Taxation: Clarifying EU rules on car taxes
14/12/2012 - Economy, finance, tax and competition / Transport and travel
The Commission presented a Communication clarifying EU rules on car taxation and recommending measures to strengthen the Single Market in this area.
EU establishes guidelines for renewable energy policy
03/12/2012 - Energy and natural resources / Science and technology / Transport and travel
The Ministers of the Energy Council adopted conclusions on renewable energy, which outline options for future action, in particular in order to facilitate long-term planning for industry and investors.
Safer vehicles through international harmonization
14/11/2012 - Transport and travel
The European Commission has agreed with international partners on new internationally harmonised rules on Advanced Emergency Braking Systems (AEBS) and Lane Departure Warning Systems (LDWS) for commercial vehicles.
CARS 2020: for a strong, competitive and sustainable European car industry
08/11/2012 - Business / Transport and travel
The Commission proposes a massive innovative push by streamlining research and innovation under the European Green Vehicle Initiative.
A visa policy to spur economic growth in the EU
07/11/2012 - External relations and foreign affairs / Justice and citizens rights / Transport and travel
If fully exploited, the current visa rules could ensure that the EU remains an attractive destination for more tourists/third country nationals, while at the same time boosting EU's economic activity and job creation.
Cars safer from 1 November 2012
31/10/2012 - Transport and travel
Europe takes a major step forward in vehicle safety on 1 November 2012 as a basket of new safety requirements for new types of motor vehicles comes into force.
Council agrees its position on new rules for the airport slots allocation
30/10/2012 - Institutional affairs / Transport and travel
The EU transport ministers agreed a general approach on proposed changes to the 1993 rules on the allocation of take-off and landing slots to airlines.
New Commission proposal to minimise the climate impacts of biofuel production
17/10/2012 - Energy and natural resources / Environment, consumers and health / Transport and travel
The Commission published a proposal to limit global land conversion for biofuel production, and raise the climate benefits of biofuels used in the EU. The use of food-based biofuels to meet the 10% renewable energy target of the Renewable Energy Directive will be limited to 5%.
Single European Sky: 10 years on and still not delivering
11/10/2012 - Transport and travel
Vice-President Siim Kallas, European Commissioner for transport, announced his intention to present new legislative proposals in Spring 2013 to accelerate implementation, as well as taking all enforcement actions possible, including infringements where necessary.
New strategy to drive European business and government productivity via cloud computing
27/09/2012 - Transport and travel
The European Commission's new strategy for "Unleashing the potential of cloud computing in Europe" outlines actions to deliver a net gain of 2.5 million new European jobs, and an annual boost of EUR 160 billion to EU GDP (around 1%), by 2020.
Transport: new horizons for EU aviation
27/09/2012 - Transport and travel
The European Commission has set out an ambitious package of proposals to boost the international competitiveness of the EU's aviation industry.
Transport and Innovation: Commission pushes to accelerate development and market uptake of new transport technologies
18/09/2012 - Transport and travel
The European Commission launches an initiative to coordinate and focus European research and innovation in transport. The aim is to speed up the deployment of new transport means and solutions to achieve a competitive and affordable European transport system.
Transport: EU grants almost €200 million to support key infrastructure projects
10/09/2012 - Transport and travel
The European Commission has selected 74 projects that will receive almost €200 million in EU co-financing from the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) programme to continue improving transport infrastructure across the EU.
Road transport: serious delays in establishing a pan-European road toll payment system
07/09/2012 - Transport and travel
The European Commission has warned that Member States will need to do more to ensure that the European Electronic Toll Service (EETS) deployment is on track.
Mergers: Commission opens in-depth investigation into proposed acquisition of Aer Lingus by Ryanair
29/08/2012 - Economy, finance, tax and competition / Transport and travel
The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation (phase II) under the EU Merger Regulation into the proposed acquisition of Aer Lingus by the low cost carrier Ryanair, which was notified to the Commission on 24 July 2012.
Air traffic: Commission approves national performance plans to reduce costs and increase capacity in the provision of air traffic management services
19/07/2012 - Environment, consumers and health / Transport and travel
The Performance Scheme of the Single European Sky aims at setting and implementing binding targets for Member States to deliver better air navigation services, leading to cheaper flights, less delays, and the saving of unnecessary costs for airlines and passengers. In addition, the environmental impact of air traffic will be reduced due to more efficient and shorter flight paths.
Road safety: tougher vehicle testing rules to save lives
13/07/2012 - Transport and travel
Vehicle checks are fundamental to road safety. More than 5 people die on Europe's roads every day in accidents linked to technical failure. So the European Commission has adopted new rules to toughen up the testing regime and widen its scope. The new proposals aim to save more than 1,200 lives a year and to avoid more than 36,000 accidents linked to technical failure.
Further CO2 emission reductions from cars and vans
11/07/2012 - Environment, consumers and health / Transport and travel
The proposals will cut average emissions from new cars to 95 grams of CO2 per km (g CO2/km) in 2020 from 135.7g in 2011 and a mandatory target of 130g in 2015. Emissions from vans will be reduced to 147g CO2/km in 2020 from 181.4g in 2010 (the latest year for which figures are available) and a mandatory target of 175g in 2017.
Commission launches innovation partnership for Smart Cities and Communities
10/07/2012 - Energy and natural resources / Regions and local development / Transport and travel
By launching a Smart Cities and Communities European Innovation Partnership (SCC) the European Commission aims to boost the development of smart technologies in cities – by pooling research resources from energy, transport and ICT and concentrating them on a small number of demonstration projects which will be implemented in partnership with cities.
Parliament strengthens basis for high-performance rail network in the EU
03/07/2012 - Transport and travel
To facilitate better use of EU rail networks, Parliament clarified competition rules for rail transport firms and rail infrastructure managers. These rules aim to stimulate the supply of international freight and passenger services and to improve their quality. Independent regulators will see that competition is fair.
Passenger rights: unfair refusals 'still a problem' for disabled air travellers says Commission
14/06/2012 - Transport and travel
As thousands of disabled Paralympians and spectators prepare to travel to London for the 2012 Olympic Games, the Commission has published guidelines to clarify their rights when travelling by air.
Road charging plans must be fair to all drivers
14/05/2012 - Transport and travel
The European Commission has today issued guidelines warning that under EU law road charging schemes must not discriminate against foreign drivers. The aim is to assist Member States who are considering introducing new charging schemes for private cars.
The European Commission updates the European safety list of airlines subject to an operating ban
03/04/2012 - Transport and travel
The European Commission has adopted the 19th update of the European list of air carriers which are for safety reasons subject to an operating ban or operational restrictions within the European Union. Conviasa, an air carrier certified in Venezuela, was added to the list due to safety concerns.
Road safety: Progress in cutting EU road deaths falls to 2% in 2011
29/03/2012 - Transport and travel
Progress in cutting road fatalities significantly slowed last year (to -2%) compared with a very promising EU-wide reduction throughout the last decade (on average -6%), according to new figures published by the European Commission.
Train control system: improved standards
25/01/2012 - Transport and travel
The Commission strengthens the certification and authorisation process of the EU’s train signaling and speed control system. On-board products will need to be tested in accredited laboratories.