In its Communication on the EU maritime transport policy until 2018, the Commission had defined the strategic goals for the European maritime transport sector up to 2018 and decided on the creation of a Task Force entrusted with the mission of identifying ways to combine the competitiveness of the European fleet with social consideration for the EU seafarers.

Of course the Union is addressing the problem with joint sea patrols and it must be said that significant progress has been made in developing an integrated EU border management system including the establishment of FRONTEX and the establishment of a community code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders.

This process should be strengthened with the following elements: a European defence equipment market, a common system of satellite and airborne intelligence and common telecommunications standards at the disposal of the military, the police and the disaster management services, a European standing naval force in the Mediterranean sea, a European budget covering not only the civil but also the military aspects of security, a European deputy foreign minister for security and defence, more frequent meetings of the Ministers for defence o ...[+++]f the EU, a European civil protection force, as well as a European Civil Peace Corps, and an available European capability for air and sea transport in case of disaster relief, rescue operations and defence operations.

Canadian troops again distinguished themselves on European and Asian battlefields during World War II, while our Navy protected shipping and did battle on the Atlantic and the Air Force flew missions through skies filled with flak to help end the Axis occupation of Europe .

3. Welcomes the fact that the European Council has taken over the conclusions of the Transport Council of 6 December 2002 and the Environment Council of 9 December 2002 regarding the adoption as soon as possible of measures to step up safety at sea and prevent pollution, so as to avoid such disasters recurring; stresses that it would also be appropriate to work towards the establishment of a genuine European civil force which could intervene in case of disasters;

European research efforts in these areas are generally well below the level of the main competitors of the European Union, in particular Japan and the United States The persons responsible for the various task forces are: Task forces Task force title Director Fax "Car of tomorrow" M. Ezio Andreta +32-2-296.68.82 "Educational software and M. Michel +32-2-296.83.62 multimedia" Richonnier "New-generation aircraft" M. Magnus Lemmel +32-2-295.97.92 "Vaccines and viral M. Bruno Hansen +32-2-295.66.08 diseases" "Trains and railway systems M. Wilhelmus +32-2-296.83.56 of the future" ...[+++]Blonk "Intermodal transport" M. Wilhelmus +32-2-296.83.56 Blonk "Environment-water" Mr Jean-Marie +39-332-78.92.22 Martin "Maritime systems of the Mr Guy Crauser +32-2-296.70.11 future" Annex The priority research topics identified by the task forces "Car of tomorrow" In accordance with the mandate which was assigned to it, the task force identified the main technological barriers which prevent industry from progressing in the development of clean cars at prices which the general public can afford : .