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The programme of work of the German EU Council Presidency in the area of transport, building and urban development - at a glance

Transport, building and urban development play a key role in improving economic conditions in the European Union and making it an attractive location for business.

For this reason, Germany intends to focus on the following during its Presidency

1. Promoting innovation and technology for greater competitive advantage, safety, security and environmental protection

• Galileo
  (European satellite navigation system)
• SESAR
  (new-generation European air traffic management system to respond to the growth in air traffic while maintaining a high level of safety)
• Aviation emissions trading
• eSafety
  (initiative bringing together safety-related innovations in intelligent vehicles)
• GMES
  (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security, a system harnessing satellite, air and ground-based technologies)
• Making progress on a European fuel strategy and proposing innovative propulsion technologies, including in the field of energy-efficient construction and energy-saving heating and cooling systems.

2. Organizing, managing and ensuring the safety of traffic flows by

• completing of the European Railway Area;
• conducting road safety research;
• promoting safety in air traffic and maritime transport through efficient organization of air traffic management and improved maritime shipping controls;
• bolstering the competitiveness of Europe's air and maritime transport industries by avoiding bottlenecks, strengthening industrial sites and developing cutting-edge technologies;
• regulating urban transport.

3. Tapping the potential of territorial diversity and of European towns and cities by

• analyzing Europe's most important challenges as regards strengthening spatial and urban development in line with the Lisbon Strategy for growth and employment;
• recommending courses of action and adopting the Leipzig Charter and the Territorial Agenda.

4. Regulatory impact assessment of new EU projects, also with a view to reducing bureaucracy

Informal ministerial meetings and conferences

• Symposium: Metropolitan Regions, 14 March 2007, Berlin
• The Way to the European Earth Observation System GMES - Munich Roadmap, 17 April 2007, Munich
• Energy Efficiency: Shaping the Future, 20 and 21 April 2007. Berlin
• Conference on "Building Culture for Sustainable Urban Development", 26 and 27 April 2007, Hamburg
• European Conference on "The Future Maritime Policy of the EU: A European Vision for Oceans and Seas", 2 to 4 May 2007, Bremen
• Informal Ministerial Meeting on Urban Development and Territorial Cohesion, 24 and 25 May 2007, Leipzig
• Symposium: eSafety, 5 and 6 June 2007, Berlin