As well, there are six initiatives in the area of freight, including the national harmonization initiative for the trucking industry to help remove regulatory barriers to the adoption of emission-reducing technologies for the trucking industry, the ecoENERGY for fleets initiative to reduce emissions from commercial and institutional road vehicle fleets, the freight technology demonstration fund to support new and under-used freight transportation technologies in real-world conditions, freight technology incentives to mitigate financial barriers to the adoption of new and under-utilized technologies, the partnerships on freight initiative to enhance domestic and international partnerships to reduce emissions from freight transportation ...[+++], and the marine shore power program to support the installation and use of shore-based power for marine vessels in Canadian ports.

Towage services and taxes on ships, vehicles and passengers in Greek ports: Commission to ask the Court for a ruling

Technical standards for road vehicles are upgraded and specific requirements for all livestock vessels operating from Community ports are introduced.

1. Community goods arriving in Greece by sea are required to go through free ports, which deprives them of the benefit of the presumption that they are Community goods. 2. Land consignments of such goods under the T2 internal Community transit procedure or under cover of the TIR carnet are subjected to frontier formalities and checks which are incompatible with the single market. 3. Lorries unloaded from ships which have made a journey within the Community have to present a consignment note for the goods carried. Otherwise the customs authorities draw up a document which has all the characteristics of a customs declaration; this measure ...[+++] is contrary to the transitional VAT arrangements and the harmonized excise duty regime. 4. New Community vehicles intended for purchasers in Greece must be specifically declared: this is contrary to the Sixth VAT Directive. 5. When such new vehicles are definitively brought into Greece, a "customs handling charge" is made, which is a charge having an effect equivalent to customs duty on importation.