What I think is relevant and regret is that the importance of maritime transport has, to some extent, become secondary to new measures, particularly given the fact that maritime transport is so important for the sake of sustainability.

During a bilateral meeting in Paris on 28 November 2002, a few days before the Transport Council of 5 December, Loyola de Palacio, Vice-President of the European Commission with responsibility for transport and energy, and Gilles de Robien, French Transport Minister, confirmed the major importance of the 'single sky' legislative package.

Although putting a limit on journey times is an important step forward, the treatment of animals en route, vehicle ventilation, overcrowding, and the definition of space and temperature requirements during transport etc. are equally important issues.

6. Insists that, although the safety record of shipping is generally excellent when compared with other transport modes, the safety and environmental protection aspects of its integration into multimodal transport systems must be paramount, both at sea and at ports;

COMMUNITY EXTERNAL SHIPPING RELATIONS - COUNCIL CONCLUSIONS "THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, CONSIDERING the exchange of views it held on the European Community's external relations in the field of maritime transport; CONSIDERING the importance of maritime transport in economic and trade relations between the European Community and third countries; REQUESTS the Commission to provide the Council as soon as possible with a communication on maritime relations with third countries, including the general guidelines it suggests in this area, and on priority actions to be undertaken, including in international fora; the Council records it ...[+++]s intention to hold detailed discussions on the basis of such communication as soon as it receives it; REQUESTS the Commission to submit to the Council as soon as possible a report on the Community action it proposes with regard to external relations with the countries of Western and Central Africa on maritime matters, taking into account the measures already taken, in particular the fact-finding mission entrusted to it by the Council at its meeting on 29 and 30 November 1993, and recent developments in this sector; EMPHASIZES the importance for the maritime policy of the Community and its Member States of the discussions in the Negotiating Group on Maritime Transport Services (NGMTS) currently taking place in the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the need to ensure consistency between these negotiations and Community policy guidelines in this sector in accordance with the principle of free and fair competition".

Speaking in Dresden, at the invitation of the International Association of Students in Economics and Management (IASEM), Mr Van Miert, member of the Commission with special responsibility for transport policy, drew attention to the importance of transport and the development of infrastructures for the full economic integration of the new Laender in the Federal Republic of Germany.