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Maritime transport: In 2012, the Commission carried out an exhaustive stakeholders' consultation exercise for the review of the EU ports' policy. The results of the extended impact assessment and the Commission's proposal for action in this field will be presented to the European Parliament and Council before summer 2013. The main objectives of the review are the modernization and full integration of ports in the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), achieving an attractive framework for investment and jobs in ports and ensuring the trade facilitation role of ports in the context of the economic recovery process. The Commission is also actively pursuing the provision of infrastructure for clean fuels in ports.

Maritime transport: Green house gas emissions: the Commission is preparing a legislative proposal for a monitoring, reporting and verification system as a first step in addressing green house gas emissions from shipping. Discussions about further global measures are on-going at IMO level, including as regards intermediary steps to quickly deliver emissions reductions, such as energy efficiency measures for existing ships.

Road transport: Weight and dimensions of vehicles: a review of current rules (40 or 44 tonnes when carrying a container for combined transport operations + specific member-State-level exceptions for heavier and longer vehicles to carry out specific tasks) has been announced. The European Commission is due to submit proposals in 2013 to adapt maximum dimensions of vehicles, taking into account factors like better aerodynamic performance, fuel consumption, emissions and the use of electric trucks with heavy batteries. The Commission will also consider the potential of new technology, and the promotion of intermodality for freight transport.

Pipelines services: Main provisions:Definition of the public services obligations where member States may impose undertakings relating to security, including security of supply, regularity, quality and price of supplies, and environmental protection including energy efficiency and climate protection.

The EU aims to achieve its trade policy objectives whilst also driving improvements in social inclusion, supporting green growth and climate change objectives, and promoting sustainable development, both in the EU and in the rest of the world

The "Europe 2020"strategy through its sixth flagship initiative aims to boost growth and jobs while becoming less carbon intensive, while through its seventh flagship initiative "A resource-efficient Europe" it seeks to establish resource efficiency as the guiding principle for EU policies on energy, transport, climate change, industry, commodities, agriculture, fisheries, biodiversity and regional development

The EU maintains its strong commitment to environmental protection and the fight against climate change in its trade policy, including through its work in the Committee on Trade and Environment and its Special Session; the EU promotes the liberalisation of trade in environmental goods and services and seeks a clarification of the relationship between the WTO and Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs)

The EU enterprise and industrial policy puts increasing attention into fostering consistency with energy and environmental policies

FTAs entered into have been designed to promote sustainable development, and therefore include high environmental and labour standards

A tool to ensure coherence between trade liberalisation and sustainable development are the ex-ante assessments of the potential effects of trade agreements on the pursuit of economic, social and environmental goals