Away session of EU Transport Attachés

01.08.2011

Introducing innovative solutions in port and offshore infrastructure as well as a presentation of North-South transport routes and conditions for the development of the ports of Gdansk and Gdynia were the main objectives of the away session of the EU Transport Council's working group. The meeting attended by representatives of EU member states, as well as delegates of the European Union Council's Secretariat-General and the European Commission was held on 27-29 July of this year in Gdansk, Gdynia and Sopot. During the first day of their visit, the participants met with representatives of the Gdansk municipal authorities and the Port of Gdansk Authority SA. During the meeting with Gdynia's municipal authorities at the Port of Gdynia Harbour Master's Office, the visitors were briefed on the vessel traffic guidance system and listened to a presentation discussing the port's development plans for the next few years as well as the port's role in international shipping.

This was the second meeting of experts at the EU level held as part of Poland's EU Presidency, organized by the Ministry of Infrastructure. The first away session of a working group, involving the EU Council Telecommunications, Post and Information Society, took place on 6-8 July of this year in Cracow. That meeting was attended by 22 representatives of EU member states, as well as delegates of the European Union Council's Secretariat-General and the European Commission. The objective was to present the latest solutions in developing telecommunications infrastructure in Poland and to promote our country. The participants visited the Cracow Park of Technology, the Motorola software centre and the Onet.pl Group's data-processing centre.

The organisation of expert meetings at the EU level constitutes a significant aspect of the EU decision-making process. As the EU Council's preparatory bodies, working groups and committees are involved in preparing legislative drafts. The prepared drafts are then adopted by ministers representing all EU member states at the EU Council session. There are approximately 200 committees and working groups operating at the present time.

Such a formula of meetings provides a basic platform for exchanging opinions and sharing experiences amongst EU member states. In the course of discussions regarding specific areas of public life, the framework for cooperation gets shaped up.

Source: Ministry of Infrastructure