Minister Ranne to attend EU Transport Council - Minister focuses on safety on the roads and in society

The transport and telecommunications ministers of the European Union will meet in Brussels on 5–6 December 2024. In the transport minister meeting, Finland will be represented by Minister of Transport and Communications Lulu Ranne and in the communications minister meeting by State Secretary Marjo Lindgren.

Improving road safety by directive on driving disqualifications

The Transport Council is to agree a general approach on a directive proposal for driving disqualifications.  The proposal states that an EU-wide driving disqualification could be imposed for a major road-safety-related offence even when the location where the offence was committed is within the territory of another EU Member State than the one that issued the driving licence.   The proposal would apply to the most serious traffic offences.

The aim of the proposal is to improve road safety by reducing serious traffic offences. Finland is in favour of the proposal and considers it important that the directive will not significantly increase the administrative burden.

“Traffic safety must be improved by all means. We need efficient regulation but also a change in the mindset. Safety should be a common concern for everyone when getting around,” says Minister Ranne.

“Efficient transport infrastructure should be ensured throughout the EU. Well-functioning cross-border connections are part of the security of supply and the comprehensive security of the entire EU,” Ranne says.

Enhancing passenger rights

The Council will seek a general approach on a regulation on passenger rights in multimodal, or  combined, journeys. These are journeys where the passenger uses at least two modes of public transport to reach their final destination. 

Finland considers it important that passengers receive sufficient and understandable information on the parties responsible for different parts of the service as well as on passenger rights in the event of delays or cancellations of the service or parts of it. The roles and responsibilities of different actors should be clear.

The Council will also be invited to agree on a general approach on a regulation on enforcement of passenger rights in the EU. Passenger rights protect passengers before, during and after the journey. They cover the right of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility to transportation and assistance, the right of a passenger to receive information before and at different stages of the journey, and the right to compensation under certain circumstances. These rights are to be enhanced.

Ministers will hold a policy debate on air passenger rights and take note of the Presidency’s progress report on the combined transport directive.

Telecommunications Council discusses the digital development in the EU

The Telecommunications Council will hold a policy debate on the digital decade 2030 objectives and targets in light of technological changes. The aim of the programme is to accelerate the digital development in the EU. The targets and objectives of the programme will be revised in 2026.

In addition, the Council is to approve conclusions on the EU’s cybersecurity agency (ENISA) and on the Commission’s White Paper on Europe's digital infrastructure needs. 

Inquiries

Transport Council:

Noora Saarinen-Uutela, Senior Specialist, [email protected], tel. +358 29 534 2154, [email protected]

Pyry Takala, Director of Commercial Transport and Qualifications Unit Unit, tel. +358 29 534 2384, [email protected]

Telecommunications Council:

Ilona Julkunen-Rexhepi, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 29 534 2039, [email protected]

Petri Lepistö, Coordinator, tel. +358 29 534 2014, [email protected]