6 things to watch this autumn in transport

Brexit, emissions and shipping waste are all on the agenda.

EASA regulation revision: The Estonian Council presidency is hoping to find what its Maltese predecessor was unable to achieve: common ground between EU countries on the revision of the European Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) basic regulation. It hopes to present an agreed-upon text to transport ministers on December 5. A trilogue is expected to take place this month.Most political pain points still have to be resolved, including the proposed change of EASA’s name to the European Aviation Agency, and giving the Cologne-based agency competence over security as well as the power to prohibit EU airlines from flying over conflict zones.

Rail passenger rights: The European Commission’s long-awaited reform of rail passenger rights legislation has been delayed several times, but proposals for a new regulation are now expected to be adopted by the College of Commissioners in September, according to two EU officials. The proposal will seek to persuade countries to give up opt-outs embedded in existing EU legislation and clarify scenarios under which rail operators can avoid paying refunds for passenger delays, such as in cases of extreme weather and flooding.

Brexit and aviation: Airlines will step up lobbying for a deal securing post-Brexit traffic rights between the EU and the U.K. Once Britain leaves the bloc it will also leave the single European aviation market, and that means EU27 airlines will lose the right to fly to and within the U.K. while U.K. airlines will lose those same rights in the much larger EU market. Unlike other sectors, aviation cannot fall back on World Trade Organization rules, and air tickets are typically sold a year in advance, creating a need for certainty by March 2018 — 12 months ahead of Brexit.

CO2 emissions standards: The Commission will come out with tougher CO2 emissions standards for new cars and vans, with similar draft legislation for heavy goods vehicles due in 2018. The goal is to set targets beyond 2020 that conform to the bloc’s 2030 climate goals. Setting standards is highly contentious for industry, setting carmakers and some governments against NGOs, the Commission and cities increasingly struggling with smog. Making the task even more difficult is the adoption of new testing standards aimed at avoiding a repeat of the Dieselgate scandal.

Aviation emissions: The Commission’s legislative proposal to continue exempting flights to and from Europe from the Emissions Trading System (ETS) must be adopted by year-end. The ETS only applies to flights within Europe, with more distant destinations receiving a derogation while an international agreement on cutting emissions was hammered out. The derogation expired at the end of 2016 and the EU has to act quickly to avoid an international fight over emissions bills for airlines. EU ambassadors agreed in June to continue the exemption, as proposed by the Commission: The Parliament votes in plenary in September, paving the way for negotiations with the Council on the details.

Tackling shipping waste: The Commission is due to issue in November a proposal to revise the directive on port reception facilities for ship-generated waste and cargo residues — the only maritime legislation on the table under the Estonian presidency. The directive, adopted in 2000, aims to reduce discharge of residues, oily mixtures and garbage at sea by increasing the use of dedicated facilities at EU ports. However, it hasn’t been implemented well and the Commission is looking to improve things. An impact assessment report should be released in October.