Brussels, 22/02/2010 (Agence Europe) - On 22 February, the EU Council of Ministers is expected to adopt a position in first reading on the draft regulation on competitive European rail freight, thereby confirming the deal reached in June 2009 (see EUROPE 9919). The draft regulation approved by the Council of Ministers requires member states to set up, within three to five years of the regulation coming into force, rail freight corridors on all nine major rail routes identified in an annex to the draft regulation, and also requires them to ensure more harmonious circulation of goods trains. At a later stage, member states not included in the list (the United Kingdom, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Ireland) will have to help establish at least one of the routes. Member states will be required to help create a new route or extend an existing route where necessary in order to establish at least one route each. The draft regulation sets priority rules for trains on the freight routes but indicates that priority should be determined by market needs and take account of the requirements of other transport users, like rail passengers for example. Each route will have its own governance structure in the form of an advisory committee of representatives of the member states involved in the route in question, along with a management board. Rail operators requesting freight train capacity across at least one border along a rail corridor will be able to lodge their requests at a special one-stop shop for that corridor. After discussing the matter in June 2009, the Transport Council rejected the Commission's initial idea of allowing non-rail transport companies (“authorised candidates”) to apply to run rail freight. The Swedish delegation has issued a statement saying that political agreement is a step in the right direction but further work is required on criteria for accessing and using the rail routes and the option of setting up new corridors. (A.By./transl.fl)