North Sea Commission, Transport Group
Terms of Reference
Introduction
This revision of the ToR has been carried out as a response to the re-structuring of the NSC, as decided by the Executive meeting and Annual Business meeting in Aviemore on 14 June..
As the neither the remit, nor the name of the Transport group is directly affected by the re-
structuring, the only substantially new section in the ToR, is the section Links to other thematic groups .
Who we are
THE TRANSPORT GROUP WAS ESTABLISHED 1991 AND IS ONE OF 6 THEMATIC GROUPS SET UP BY THE NORTH SEA COMMISSION.
Administration
The group is chaired by a regional politician, assisted by until 2 political Vice-Chairs. An Adviser (normally a Council officer) is responsible for the administration of the group (i.e. preparing and following up meetings, drafting documents, reports and resolutions, reporting etc.). An assistant Adviser may be appointed by the group if considered necessary to carry out the work of the group in a satisfactory manner. The Chair, Vice-Chairs and Adviser are all appointed by the NSC Executive Committee. The Chair or Adviser reports about the work of the group at Executive Committee meetings and in an annual report to the General Assembly.
Membership
Membership is open to all regional authorities and other transport-related stakeholders in the North Sea Region, such as ports, terminal operators, transport providers, transport users, research institutions and universities & colleges
What we want to achieve
Aim
Improve cohesion, accessibility and competitiveness in the North Sea Region (NSR) through the development of sustainable and efficient transport solutions
Objectives
Improve knowledge in the transport sector
Facilitate transport planning among regional authorities and businesses
Influence and develop EU and national transport policies to the benefit of the NSR Facilitate networks and partnerships among all relevant stakeholders
Raise awareness on the requirements for efficient and sustainable transport
Promote transport solutions which may improve the competitiveness of the business community
What we do
Main roles and functions of Transport group
Monitoring key developments in the industry and within policies at all levels
Facilitating co-operation and partnerships among relevant stakeholders
Liaison between industry actors (i.e. businesses, transport users) and policy makers Forum for the exchange of information and experience among relevant stakeholders Understanding the needs of different transport users and convey the needs to policy makers at relevant levels
Developing Interreg and other projects
Disseminating knowledge through conferences, seminars and studies Synthesising and disseminating findings from Interreg & other projects Influencing EU and national transport policies
Adviser and secretariat for the NSC Executive Committee on transport issues
Co-operation with other NSC thematic groups
Interaction with the CPMR and other geographical Commissions
Key issues
- Sustainable transport
- Accessibility
- Competitiveness, growth and innovation in line with the Lisbon strategy
- Intermodal transport links, including ports and combined terminals
- Short sea shipping, incl. Motorways of the Seas
- Significance of ICT in transport
- Integrated spatial & transport planning
- Infrastructure pricing policies
- Need to improve physical transport infrastructure
How we work
Organisation of work, meetings
The work is as a main rule organised in one plenary group. Sub-groups or Task Forces may be established for projects and special events (conferences, seminars etc.)
The group will produce a detailed annual work / action plan, including specific activities with measurable outputs, on the basis of the ToR. This plan must formulate clear priorities and concentrate on the specific areas where the group could make a difference, and in particular on areas where transnational co-operation is needed. The Work / action plan must be submitted to and endorsed by the NSC Executive Committee, and presented to the Annual Business meeting of the NSC General Assembly.
The group normally meets three times a year (winter, spring and autumn). The meetings will normally start at lunch day 1 and end at lunch day 2. Sub-group meetings may be held outside or in conjunction with plenary meetings.
THE MEETING PROGRAMME WILL NORMALLY INCLUDE SOME SORT OF LEARNING ELEMENT, INCLUDING PRESENTATIONS OF OR VISITS TO TRANSPORT-RELATED FACILITIES IN THE HOST REGION. THE HOST WILL NORMALLY MAKE A BRIEF PRESENTATION OF HIS REGION, WITH EMPHASIS ON KEY DEVELOPMENTS WITHIN THE TRANSPORT SECTOR, INCLUDING GOOD PRACTICE IN THIS AREA. THE AGENDA SHALL ALWAYS BE OPEN FOR THE EXCHANGE OF EXPERIENCE AND BEST PRACTICE SOLUTIONS BETWEEN MEMBER REGIONS.
Links to other thematic groups
Several interfaces and overlaps exist between transport and the policy /issue areas addressed by the other thematic groups. Needless to say, transport is not an end in it-self, but a means for promoting regional development in the large sense. Efficient and sustainable transport solutions are vital for the accessibility of peripheral & maritime regions, for the competitiveness of the business community, for the functioning of the labour market, for tourism, education, leisure activities and for ordinary social interaction among people. On the other hand, transport has got negative impacts on the environment, health and safety, requiring the development of environmentally more friendly and safer means of transport.
Examples of interfaces and overlaps with other thematic groups (not necessarily exhaustive):
Culture & Tourism Group:
Role of efficient and sustainable transport solutions for tourism (both with regards to travel options to main destination and travel within destination), the impact and role of low cost carriers, public transport solutions to and within tourist destinations, cruises
Innovation & Education group:
Significance of transport for implementing the Lisbon Agenda, role of transport for the competitiveness of the business community and the well-functioning of labour markets, hereunder commuting, public-private partnerships, value chain management in logistics, city logistics, cruises, innovation in the transport sector, R&D within the transport sector, recruitment to transport trade & professions, education and training of transport professionals (pilots, sea farers, bus drivers), awareness-raising among stakeholders and general public as to requirements for safe and sustainable transport, development of alternative fuels (cf. renewable energy)
Maritime Resources:
Significance of transport for maritime policy and coastal zone management, transport solutions for sea food, maritime safety for fishing vessels, education, training and recruitment to maritime professions
Sustainable development:
Impact of transport on environment, safety and health, development of more environmentally friendly and safer transport solutions (i.e. promote shift from road to rail and sea, public transport and cycling etc), development of less polluting fuels, (i.e. bio-fuels, hydrogen etc), environmental impact of shipping (i.e. Clean Ship approach, fuel directive etc)
