TRANSPORT AND THE ENVIRONMENT

In December 1994, the EU Environment Council decided that the following measures needed to be considered for reasons of environment and health protection and to ensure environmentally and socially compatible mobility:

• - to further optimize the technology (vehicles, fuel) on a regular basis;
• - in all policy fields to limit and to reduce, as far as possible and feasible, environmentally damaging transport;
• - to work towards a shift from road and air traffic to rail and waterways and from motor cars to public and non-motorized transport, taking into account geographical and socio-economical factors;
• - to work as far as possible towards the payment of infrastructure costs and external costs by the users of transport infrastructure taking also into account fair competition, e.g. through road pricing;
• - to take measures to increase public awareness for sustainable mobility.

European Council of Ministers

Environment Council Meeting - December 15/16 1994