CONGRESSMAN OBERSTAR URGES EU TRANSPORT OFFICIALS TO

UNCLAS LJUBLJANA 000219

DEPT FOR EUR/NCE
FAA BRUSSELS FOR KURT EDWARDS
EEB/TRA FOR JOHN BYERLY

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAIR ELTN EWWT SENV PREL PGOV EUN OREP SI
SUBJECT: CONGRESSMAN OBERSTAR URGES EU TRANSPORT OFFICIALS TO
INCREASE COOPERATION

REF A: BRUSSELS 3422
REF B: LJUBJLANA 208

Summary
--------------


1. (U) During his May 5-6 visit to Slovenia to meet with EU
transport officials during the informal meeting of EU transport
ministers, Congressman James Oberstar, Chairman of the House
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, suggested increased
U.S.-EU cooperation to set global standards for aviation safety, air
traffic control and road safety. He also applauded the EU for its
focus on sustainable transport and outlined U.S. initiatives in
transport. Oberstar asserted that reducing traffic congestion,
reducing the number of trucks on the road, and reducing vehicle
miles traveled on U.S. roads were essential components to increasing
economic and reducing greenhouse gases. End Summary.

U.S.-EU Cooperation - Set Global Standards
--------------


2. (SBU) Slovene Transport Minister and President of the EU Council
of Transport Ministers Radovan Zerjav invited Congressman James
Oberstar to address EU transport ministers the evening prior to
their May 6 informal transport ministerial on sustainable transport.
During a meeting on May 5 with Zerjav, EU Transport Commissioner
Jacques Barrot, and Chair of the European Parliament's Transport
Committee Paolo Costa, Oberstar suggested several areas where
increased cooperation between the U.S. and the EU could produce
results: a coordinated aviation safety initiative, a harmonized air
traffic control system, and shared standards of road safety. He
reiterated this suggestion in his speech. He proposed to Costa that
the transport committees of the U.S. Congress and the European
Parliament meet twice a year to discuss transportation issues and
share best practices. Costa welcomed this invitation and promised
to introduce this proposal to the committee.

Work Through ICAO to Reduce Aviation Emissions
-------------- -


3. (SBU) Oberstar opened his address to the transport ministers by
expressing concern with a unilateral approach to emissions, such as
the proposed emissions trading scheme proposed by the EU (ref A).
He stressed that everyone "needs to act but, should act together."
He suggested that the International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO) is the proper forum for dealing with aviation emissions. He
said he would like to see aviation and climate change groups work
closely together. Separately, Oberstar expressed to Barrot his
opposition to foreign ownership of U.S. air carriers and the
proposed mergers of U.S. carriers.

Land Transportation - Improve Trains, Reduce Trucks
-------------- --------------


4. (SBU) In the May 5 meeting, Oberstar stressed the need for new
strategies to combat the increase in congestion and carbon emissions
caused by land transportation. Zerjav and Barrot noted that the
trans-European network (ref B),which aims to modernize and increase
the development and integration of Europe's highway and rail
systems, is Europe's great hope for reducing congestion and
increasing transport productivity.

Comment
--------------


5. (SBU) Oberstar's knowledge of European transit issues and use of
statistics throughout his address seemed to make a strong positive
impression on many of the EU transport ministers. Several ministers
asked Emboff for a copy of Oberstar's dinner speech. The EU
ministers appeared pleased with Oberstar's message of collaboration.
Oberstar said that he chose not to discuss the controversial
aviation issues, in light of the upcoming U.S.-EU Air Transport
Agreement Stage II negotiations May 15-16. End Comment.


6. (U) Congressman James Oberstar cleared on this cable.

COLEMAN