Marius Skuodis: aiming at equal EU countries operators’ conditions in third countries
At an informal meeting of the transport ministers of the European Union (EU), Minister of Transport and Communications Marius Skuodis called on the EU for closer cooperation with the neighbouring countries of the EU in the areas of transport and logistics. He believes this would help to ensure fair competition. Marius Skuodis further underlined that EU railway operators active in third countries should have equal conditions to those applied to third countries’ operators in the EU.
“I consider railway transport as an important part of European logistics chains and the EU Green Deal targets. For rail freight transport to become even more competitive, we must strengthen the main communication links with international markets. Equal and fair competition with third countries’ carriers outside the EU, especially, in neighbouring countries, is also vitally important. This matter is one of the priorities on our agenda,” Lithuanian Minister of Transport said during the annual meeting of transport ministers.
Taking into account the EU countries’ efforts to expand railway sector and to develop a single European railway area, Minister Skuodis emphasized the need to eliminate missing links and to expand international corridors. It was noted that in the Baltic region, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia are currently implementing an infrastructure project of key strategic interest, Rail Baltica; thus, its timely implementation and appropriate financing is a common EU-wide target.
At the meeting the Minister Skuodis also underlined the lack of consistency with regard to actions taken so far by the EU to promote the use of combined freight transport where goods are delivered by several modes of transport (for example, trains and trucks). According to him, recent assessment conducted by the European Commission showed that some provisions of the Mobility Package regulating carriers’ operations relating to an obligation to return trucks to the country of registration and cabotage restrictions would not only result in higher pollution and internal market damage but would also stagnate a shift from road transport to rail transport.
“Around 5000 trucks cross Lithuanian-Polish border every day. Last year, railway companies of both countries jointly participated in pilot movements from Germany to Lithuania and back involving 14 trains with semi-trailers. With the expansion of semi-trailers transportation by rail, around 300 semi-trailers could be transported daily, which would in turn reduce heavy polluting freight transport traffic by 6 percent. It means 100 thousand tonnes less of carbon dioxide emissions per year,” Minister Skuodis said.
The EU Member States ministers and European Commissioner for Transport Adina-Ioana Vălean participated in the informal annual meeting of the EU ministers of transport. The meeting was organised by Portugal holding presidency of the Council of the EU during the first half of this year. Its priority in the area of communication is the development of railway sector.
Last updated: 31-03-2021
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