Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-01-16-Speech-3-239"
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"en.20020116.16.3-239"2
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"Mr President, Commissioner, we are now discussing three proposals concerning road transport, which are not in themselves the most exciting topics to the general public. Consequently, few political points can be scored. But even small steps are necessary in order to ensure flexible transportation. I thank those who have drafted the reports for their splendid work and, for example, Mr Grosch for his positive and constructive attitude to his colleagues’ proposals for amendments. With regard to Mr Hatzidakis's report, it is particularly satisfying that the Council is now permitting the use of old buses until the end of their economic life. Anything else would of course be a senseless waste of resources.
As far as dimensions are concerned, I would like to mention the situation regarding lorries. Finland and Sweden allow lorries which are larger than normal. We allow lorries six and a half metres longer than elsewhere in the EU. These dimensions should definitely also be adopted for use throughout the entire area of the EU. If this procedure were followed, the load carried by lorries would be increased from forty tonnes to sixty tonnes. The advantages here are obvious even to the layman. Space would be saved on our congested roads, since two Finnish lorries are the equivalent of three lorries from elsewhere in Europe. Continental Europe could from time to time take a lesson from Nordic pragmatism. The combination of improved traffic flow and the economy of scale would lead to a cleaner environment. This is precisely what is announced in the Transport White Paper;
Palacio Vallelersundi. Therefore I ask the Commission to respond in this matter and to consider a proposal along these lines.
It should be remembered that road transport is far and away the most important mode of transportation in Europe, which in addition to everything else offers door-to-door service. The railways, which, sad to say, work poorly, must of course be improved. The fact that icebreakers travel more quickly than goods trains is absurd (not that Finnish icebreakers are particularly slow!). The last thing we should do, however, is to throw a spanner in the works for road transport. The dynamism of Europe depends on a flourishing economy, and the lifeblood of this is effective road transportation. By standardising provisions we can ensure fair conditions for competition, not only between forms of transportation but also between Member States. I believe that these proposals are a step in the right direction."@en1
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"merci, madame"1
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