Brussels, 17/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - Further to the vote during the European Parliament plenary session for reactivating a single rail area, on Wednesday 16 November, the various European parties set out their priorities. Although the establishment of a European regulator is backed by the Christian-Democrats and Liberals, complete separation of infrastructure managers from transport operators is cause for division among Liberals and the Greens. However, they all place their hopes in the Commission's proposals for 2012. Reactions are not always enthusiastic, however, although the vote was massively in favour (only 80 votes against and 36 abstentions - see EUROPE 10496). The Community of European Railways (CER) considers it comes out a winner and that the position adopted by MEPs is a good basis for discussion with the Council, which can now begin in second reading. Rail workers trade unions continue to grumble, fearing that an accessible and quality public service will be axed.
Mathieu Grosch (EPP, Belgium) said: “We expect measures approved today will allow greater competition and that this will lead to a better service and rise in passenger and freight transport by rail. Thus, rail transport can complete road transport which has reached saturation point.” However, his French colleagues, Michel Dantin and Dominique Vlasto, bemoaned that “a number of fundamental points were not dealt with”. They mainly cited complete separation of infrastructure managers and transport managers.
Separation. The Parliament has in fact deferred the problem, calling on the European Commission to submit proposals in 2012. This further surprise was received by Isabelle Durant (Greens/EFA, Belgium) with relief. She said: “It remains to be hoped that the European Commission (…) will use this extra time to provide us with a truly objective assessment of the situation. Complete separation (…) defended by those who are ready to pay any price for greater rail competition, not only offers absolutely no guarantee that this will be so but also has a cost in terms of coordination and attention to the needs of travellers that certain member states, including Belgium, have already paid”. The Greens, contrary to the EPP, therefore do not see separation as a good thing. Pascal Canfin (France) even considers that “although the worst has been avoided, the text adopted is still not satisfactory as it points to dismantling of rail transport, no more no less”.
European regulator. The Christian-Democrats, however, share the point of view expressed by the Liberals on the need to establish a European regulator as quickly as possible, which requires a Commission proposal. “Since the beginning, Liberals and Democrats called for the creation of an independent European regulatory body. The aim is neither to create more bureaucracy, nor to interfere in member states where an efficient and strong national regulatory body is already functioning but to intervene where it does not or where competition is undermined”, explained Ramon Tremosa I Balcells (ALDE, Spain). This will not, however, require the creation of an additional agency, said Dieter-Lebrecht Koch and Werner Kuhn (EPP, Germany), who feel that the European railway agency could take on the role.
Financial flows. Gesine Meissner (ALDE, Germany) regrets not having obtained a majority on the adequate separation of financial flows in the rail holding sector. Profits from public funds invested in rail infrastructure should remain in infrastructure, Meissner said (the oral amendment submitted at the last minute by Tremosa I Balcells on this subject was not taken up, contrary to what was announced in EUROPE 10496). The Socialist coordinator for transport, Saïd El Khadroui, also acknowledged on Twitter that “more work has to be done to clarify financial flows” between the different rail entities.
Reactions from rail operators and trade unions. The railway sector appreciates the general approach of the text adopted by the Parliament, CER Executive Director Johannes Ludewig said, adding that the CER was “satisfied to see that the members of the European Parliament have confirmed and reinforced the framework of the first railway package while at the same time acknowledging the importance of a healthy financial environment during today's vote”.
Workers in the rail sector feel threatened by the text, although minimum service in the event of strike action is not imposed by the Parliament in compliance with the Commission's suggestions. The European Transport Federation (ETF) deplores the fact that the “European Parliament has set the wrong signals by favouring further fragmentation and disintegration of the railway sector. This will mean additional costs for the public, passengers and the railway workers”. Sabine Trier, the deputy secretary general of the trade union association, assured that: “The ETF will do the utmost to prevent the railway sector in Europe being destroyed by further liberalisation. The ETF will keep fighting against a dogmatic 'the-markets-fix-it-all' approach”. (MD/transl.jl)