NordenBladet — The French Presidency of the Council of the European Union will arrange an informal meeting of transport ministers in Le Bourget, France, on 21-22 February 2022. Finland will be represented at the meeting by Minister of Transport and Communications Timo Harakka and High-Level Representative Mikael Nyberg.The Ministers will discuss innovations in the transport sector and how to keep the industry attractive.“The EU has ambitious climate goals and reducing emissions from transport plays an important role in this work. In the transport sector, introduction of green technologies and use of digitalisation and data generate innovations, business and jobs. Finnish businesses have expertise that we can offer to others too,” says Minister Harakka.It is the EU’s aim to reduce emissions by at least 55 per cent by 2030 and to reach climate neutrality by 2050. On national scale, too, Finland aims for carbon neutrality by 2035 and for halving emissions from transport by 2030.In addition to innovation opportunities, the meeting will discuss how to attract young people, in particular, to work in the transport sector. The topics of the discussion will include the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and ways to improve the working conditions of employees.At lunch, the discussions will focus on the transition to more environmentally friendly modes of transport, regulation proposal on the Trans-European Transport Nnetwork (TEN-T), and the reduction of emissions from road transport.Finland considers it important that the EU adopt more sustainable modes of transport more quickly. The use and effective combinations of different modes of transport should be supported and the development of internal market for mobility services promoted.On 17 February, the Government submitted a Union communication to Parliament on the proposal for a regulation on the trans-European transport network. Over lunch, Finland will highlight the Government’s position on the proposal.
Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi