By Henrietta Billings - 7th June 2004
Europe's 25 transport ministers will be faced with a packed agenda on Friday as they attempt to thrash out agreements on a raft of thorny proposals.
Top of the agenda at the Luxembourg meeting will be controversial EU plans for lorry charging - the so-called "eurovignette" proposals.
Progress has been made in a number of areas including the level of tolls, and mark ups for trucks travelling through environmentally sensitive and urban areas.
But the outstanding issue on this dossier remains the earmarking of revenue collected from the tolls.
EU diplomats say that with national capitals split roughly fifty - fifty, a round of "major negotiations" will be needed if both sides are to reach an agreement on Friday.
The next delicate topic is weekend and public holiday bans for lorries - proposals in the offing for the last seven years.
The current patchwork of restrictions across Europe makes it difficult for hauliers to plan their trips, and under the proposals on the table, new bans would be put on hold and existing restrictions harmonised.
While the presidency is hoping for political agreement on this dossier, a blocking minority including Germany, Austria, the UK, France and Slovenia, possibly joined by Malta and Luxembourg, makes the prospect of an accord unlikely.
The ongoing US-EU 'open skies' negotiations will also be scrutinised by ministers.
The most outstanding issue remains market access, and US reluctance to meet key European demands to allow European carriers to fly US domestic routes.
Brussels has repeatedly said any interim deal that might be signed at the EU-US summit in June must include some form of market access, and a clear commitment to a further second phase of liberalisation.
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