Brussels, 08/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - The EU Council of Minsters decided, without debate, on Monday 7 March, not to oppose the adoption by the European Commission of a regulation on a system of certification of companies in charge of maintenance of freight wagons. The regulation defines inter alia minimum criteria to be met by any company which wants to undertake the maintenance of the wagons circulating in the EU. It also establishes criteria for accreditation of certification bodies and harmonises the format of the certificate granted to companies and valid throughout the EU.
The Council also endorsed the Commission decision on the technical specification for the interoperability relating to the rolling stock (locomotives and carriages for the transport of passengers) sub-system. The decision sets out the technical specifications in order to ensure interoperability of all locomotives, passenger carriages and the maintenance equipment of the conventional rail network operating in Europe. The two texts will now be passed to the European Parliament for adoption (or rejection). (A.By.transl.rt)