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Brussels ls, 23 Jan anuary y 2018 MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, After 11 years of membership, Bulgaria is taking over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the first time. For us this is a very exciting moment, because Bulgarians remember to this day the emotion when in 2007 our country joined the European family. In this regard, it is my honour to present here to you the key transport policy priorities to be discussed

• ver the next 6 months. Bulgaria has the ambitious goal of actively participating in the European

legislative process. At the same time, we are aware of the responsibility borne both by us and by you, members of the European Parliament, because the decisions taken here have a significant impact on the everyday life of European citizens. We will strive to achieve real and promising results, following the principles of transparency and openness to citizens: principles which underlie the EU. The Bulgarian Presidency will seek consensus, competitiveness and cohesion in all policy sectors, including through deepening our cooperation on the integration of the Western Balkan countries into the European family. Bulgaria is a country with a rich historical past. Due to its geostrategic location on the Balkan Peninsula, Bulgaria has always been a bridge between Europe and Asia in the transfer of people, goods, services and capital. That is why transport links with us in the Balkans continue to be of such great importance for the whole of Europe. Transport is a powerful tool for boosting Europe's economy, prosperity, competitiveness and regional cohesion. The Bulgarian Presidency aims to contribute to the development of this important sector by giving priority to the initiatives included in the first Mobility Package, the second Mobility Package and the legislative acts of the Aviation Strategy in Europe. We are taking over the Presidency at a key moment in the negotiation process on the first Mobility Package. Achieving concrete solutions and finalising the legislative proposals within the Presidency Trio are the pledge of a prosperous European transport sector. We will continue to prioritise the work on the dossiers on access to the market and to the profession, as well as the specific legislation on posting of drivers, hired vehicles and interoperability of electronic road toll systems. Social affairs and posting of workers have become

a politically sensitive topic in Europe and I therefore expect a substantial and effective debate on this issue. Legislative proposals under the first Mobility Package must be based on fair and balanced solutions that take into account the need for adequate protection of drivers, along with the exercise of the fundamental freedom to provide services. Clear rules and effective control are the key to fair competition and the smooth functioning of the European internal market. The use of new technological solutions can contribute crucially to reaching this goal. That is why improving the interoperability of electronic road toll systems in Europe is a key element in stimulating the development of a competitive market. Achieving a common approach on this dossier will be a step forward and we will strive for progress and provide a solid basis for negotiations during the next Presidency. The development of intermodal transport is another major priority for European transport policy. The Presidency has already started working on a revision of the Directive on the establishment of common rules for the combined transport of goods. The existing Directive dates back 25 years and has not been transposed uniformly in the legislation of individual countries, which prevents its potential from being unleashed. The transfer of goods from long-distance road transport to rail, inland waterways and maritime transport aims at reducing the adverse impact of the transport of goods on the environment as well as the congestion of the road network. The positive effect of the implementation of this directive will impact directly on the industry, encouraging the use of combined transport of goods within the European Union. The revised Directive could become a powerful tool for developing multimodal links between existing transport infrastructures and building new ones in the European Union. Future solutions in the field of intermodal transport will also be discussed at the Transport Ministers' High Level Meeting on "Multimodal Transport for Europe" from 19 to 20 March 2018 in Sofia. The potential for commodity exchange and large-scale investments between Europe and Asia necessitates the development of transport links along the Danube and the Black Sea and the extension of the Trans-European Transport Network to the Western Balkan countries. In this respect, a deeper partnership with the countries in this region, with a view to integrating transport systems, is extremely important. This will create the conditions for more effective coordination and support, including financial, for building a modern, secure and integrated transport network in the Balkans. The Connecting Europe Facility and other financial instruments should also contribute to the dynamism of, and the deepening of cooperation in, the region. In the field of aviation, we have outlined the work on the Regulation on Safeguarding Competition in Air Transport as a top priority. Our main task is to create a working tool to protect European air carriers against unfair practices by third countries and to stimulate competition between carriers. We expect the regulation to boost competition, which in the long run will provide greater choice and lower prices to citizens without disturbing the aviation connectivity of peripheral Member States and that of the EU to the rest of the world. Allowing unfair practices to continue may lead to a dominant position or even monopoly in the aviation market in the long run. This would mean

less choice, worse connectivity and higher prices for citizens. The task will not be easy. The legislative proposal is regarded as complicated and contradictory by the Member States, but so is any legislative initiative. The Presidency will seek common ground between the positions of the countries. It must be clear that the European Union's actions will be fully in line with the international

• bligations under the future regulation. We will encourage the EU's negotiations with third

countries on the conclusion of comprehensive bilateral air transport agreements. This will ensure fair competition, security and environmental protection. The Bulgarian Presidency will work on the negotiations which have already started, but will also welcome the initiation of new ones with

• ther third countries.

In the field of maritime transport, the Bulgarian Presidency will start working on an entirely new Directive on port reception facilities for ship-generated waste in order to improve the protection

• f the marine environment and reduce the administrative burden on businesses. The proposal for

a European One Stop Shop Directive will be presented in the beginning of May 2018. This dossier is of great importance for further facilitating the reporting process for merchant ships. We plan to work on the file as soon as it is submitted. We also look forward to the European Commission's proposals for a revision of the Directive on minimum training requirements for seafarers and the Directive on the mutual recognition of seafarers' certificates. We will work to finalise the Council Recommendations on requirements and prescriptions for small craft. Last but not least, the Bulgarian Presidency will host the Annual EU Maritime Day and Blue Growth - European Maritime Day, which will take place from 31 May to 1 June 2018 in Burgas. Another measure we will take is to improve the current legal framework on rail passengers' rights, which is an essential element in improving the quality of services. Оther events in the calendar of the Bulgarian Presidency will be dedicated to topics such as railway financing and its future development, air connectivity, and European maritime policy. The Transport Council under our Presidency will take place on 7 June 2018 in Luxembourg. MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, In conclusion, I would like to emphasise that we will rely on the cooperation and help of you – the people who make European laws, in achieving the soals set. All of us are expecting concrete solutions to the open questions that are on the agenda. The Bulgarian Presidency believes and relies on the support of the European Parliament - the institution that most clearly reflects the interests of all citizens in Europe. We are amid a dynamic and constantly changing external and internal environment. Now is the time to prove that the EU can be united and open to the needs of its citizens. The decisions we make today must be felt directly by citizens in the future.

57% of citizens across the European Union believe in the community and that it is good for their

• countries. Europe continues to be the best place to live, so we must do our utmost to preserve

and achieve even higher levels of trust. European citizens expect us to act in a more coordinated way, to be more active in solving problems, and expect Europe to be fairer and generate growth. That is why I want to end with the slogan of our presidency, which is a slogan of the Bulgarian Parliament "United we stand strong!" The Presidency for us is road a six-month walk ahead, which we invite you to take together with us. Thank you for your attention!