Speech to the ECR bureau meeting by Mrs Tineke Huizinga, Netherlands Vice-Minister for Transport

3rd February 2010

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is good to be here, after a frantic day in The Hague.
As Vice Minister for Transport, Public Works and Water Management and as a member of the Christian Union, I am honoured to welcome you onto Dutch soil.

The European Union has a major influence on the policy areas of Transport, Public Works and Water Management. I can hardly imagine an issue within this field that is not affected in one way or another by decisions at the European level.
Market access in road transport, rail corridors, air traffic and emissions trading, water quality.
People often talk about Europe in abstract terms, something that is a long way away, but Europe is actually quite concrete.

Europe involves the issues I am dealing with every day, the things all of us are working on together.
The Netherlands was last year ranked the second largest exporter in Europe, after Germany. A top-notch performance!
We export more than countries like France, the United Kingdom and Italy. These are countries with populations three times larger than ours.
This is a fine performance. But it does not hide the fact that the transport sector is hard pressed in this economic crisis. In 2008 and 2009 the strong relationship between the economy, trade and the transport sector once again became obvious.

A crisis often paves the way for protectionism. During the past year, this has been illustrated by several examples in Europe.
However, protectionism will not help us to overcome the crisis. National measures, exclusively aimed at boosting a country's own economy, are counterproductive.
They have a negative effect on trade and transport volumes.
Not only in the open Dutch economy, but across all European economies.

It is imperative that we counter the negative consequences of the crisis at the European level.
With the European and Dutch ambitions in the field of climate policy at the back of our minds, we must seize the opportunity to convert the transport sector into a sustainable, innovative one. This pertains to inland shipping in particular. The most sustainable mode of goods transport. This is something your group, represented by Peter van Dalen, is making a strong case for in the European Parliament. And with good reason.
The business community needs to do its part, however difficult that may be at the moment.
However, the business community may expect something from the government as well.

At the European level too, there is work to be done, in order to get the transport sector on its feet again after the crisis.
In my opinion, the European agenda for the future should also include the following issues:

Focusing on the simplification and removal of existing rules and regulations, instead of implementing (more) new rules and regulations
Innovation schemes focusing on clever logistics and climate-proofing our living environment

But also the issue of sustainability.
One of the principles that the European Conservatives and Reformists Group share is that of dedicating themselves to a sustainable society.
For the Christian Union and for the Dutch Cabinet as well, dedication to a sustainable society is a main aim. Not based on a view that government policies can change the world, but in the knowledge that Creation is delicate. Something we must take good care of, also in the interests of our children and grandchildren.
That is why I call on you to make a real effort in the years ahead, at the European level, to create a sustainable society (ensuring, incidentally, that Europe sets realistic targets in its directives).
I wish you a great deal of wisdom in your work as members of the European Parliament, fruitful workshops in our country and, in a moment, a wonderful dinner.

Thank you for your attention.

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In July 2009, the ECR was formed by eight political parties who share the common goals of opposition to Euro-federalism and of fundamental reform of the European Union to make it more accountable, transparent and responsive to the needs of the people.

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29th June 2010 - ECR group meeting with Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council

19th July - 30th August - Brussels