Brussels, 03/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - At its meeting in Paris on Tuesday 3 May, the General Assembly of the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) decided to postpone the election procedure for its new executive director (see EUROPE 10368) until the next assembly meeting on 12 September. All candidates remain in the running for the post. The list of candidates presented on Tuesday will be maintained until that date. The assembly nonetheless decided to leave this list open until 15 July and to thus give its members the possibility of potential additional candidates. The list of criteria for the selection of candidates, as adopted by the same assembly in February, was also confirmed. The new executive director should take up his post on 1 January 2012 to replace Johannes Ludewig of Germany.
In addition to the organisational aspects, the CER assembly also tackled topical European issues. The association welcomed the recent adoption by the European Commission of the White Paper on Transport, supporting all objectives and measures outlined therein. It also underlined the importance of discussions underway on the review proposed by the Commission of the first rail package, sticking to its stance of last December on this. In a press release that appeared at that time, the CER mainly underlines it is necessary to have the support of member states to enhance rail infrastructure effectiveness. (A.By./transl.jl)