Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DUBLIN565
2006-05-22 11:45:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Dublin
Cable title:
EUROPEAN CONFERENCE OF MINISTERS OF TRANSPORT TO
how-toVZCZCXRO2577 RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ DE RUEHDL #0565 1421145 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 221145Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY DUBLIN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6949 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES RUEHBL/AMCONSUL BELFAST 0386 RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
UNCLAS DUBLIN 000565
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR PREL EI
SUBJECT: EUROPEAN CONFERENCE OF MINISTERS OF TRANSPORT TO
BECOME INTERNATIONAL
REF: DUBLIN 559
UNCLAS DUBLIN 000565
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR PREL EI
SUBJECT: EUROPEAN CONFERENCE OF MINISTERS OF TRANSPORT TO
BECOME INTERNATIONAL
REF: DUBLIN 559
1. During the May 17-18 European Conference of Ministers of
Transport (ECMT) in Dublin, delegates voted unanimously to
transform the organization into an "International Transport
Forum." The new organization would be more global in scope
and less Eurocentric. (The ECMT currently has 43 member
countries, drawn principally from Europe, and 7 non-European
associate member countries.) The transformation would begin
with next year's annual ministerial in Sofia, with the
process achieving completion in five years.
2. U.S. Undersecretary of Transportation for Policy Jeffrey
Shane recommended that the ECMT take up, as the principal
theme for next year's ministerial, transportation congestion.
U/S Shane noted that this recommendation followed on May
15-19 National Transportation Week events in the United
States that highlighted transportation bottlenecks as an
impediment to economic growth and job creation. U/S Shane
added that congestion in the movement of people and goods was
a problem that was shared globally and therefore an
appropriate subject for the ECMT, which now would be more
international in scope. ECMT participants supported the
recommendation, with some initial discussion of whether
transportation "congestion" or "efficiency" would be the
better term for the focus area. Participants also asked
whether the United States could take a leadership role within
the ECMT in preparing the groundwork for the next
ministerial. U/S Shane reserved on whether the USG would be
in a position to accept this responsibility pending
consultations with colleagues in Washington. (Note: The
request for U.S. leadership in this area was noteworthy in
that the United States is an associate, not full, member of
the ECMT.)
Kenny
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR PREL EI
SUBJECT: EUROPEAN CONFERENCE OF MINISTERS OF TRANSPORT TO
BECOME INTERNATIONAL
REF: DUBLIN 559
1. During the May 17-18 European Conference of Ministers of
Transport (ECMT) in Dublin, delegates voted unanimously to
transform the organization into an "International Transport
Forum." The new organization would be more global in scope
and less Eurocentric. (The ECMT currently has 43 member
countries, drawn principally from Europe, and 7 non-European
associate member countries.) The transformation would begin
with next year's annual ministerial in Sofia, with the
process achieving completion in five years.
2. U.S. Undersecretary of Transportation for Policy Jeffrey
Shane recommended that the ECMT take up, as the principal
theme for next year's ministerial, transportation congestion.
U/S Shane noted that this recommendation followed on May
15-19 National Transportation Week events in the United
States that highlighted transportation bottlenecks as an
impediment to economic growth and job creation. U/S Shane
added that congestion in the movement of people and goods was
a problem that was shared globally and therefore an
appropriate subject for the ECMT, which now would be more
international in scope. ECMT participants supported the
recommendation, with some initial discussion of whether
transportation "congestion" or "efficiency" would be the
better term for the focus area. Participants also asked
whether the United States could take a leadership role within
the ECMT in preparing the groundwork for the next
ministerial. U/S Shane reserved on whether the USG would be
in a position to accept this responsibility pending
consultations with colleagues in Washington. (Note: The
request for U.S. leadership in this area was noteworthy in
that the United States is an associate, not full, member of
the ECMT.)
Kenny