Brussels, 08/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - Three countries have not accepted the Council first reading stance on the rail package, which merges three directives with a view to establishing a single European rail area. The text was adopted at the Justice and Home Affairs Council on Thursday 8 March. Estonia abstained in the vote on the text, while Luxembourg and Austria voted against. Austria agrees generally with the desire for simplification which underpins the proposal for a recast, but has problems with Article 13, paragraphs 3 and 6. The Austrians challenge any obligation to split entities, beyond their having separate and distinct accounts and balance sheets, arguing that separation leads to a disproportionate increase in the financial burden and interferes with the freedom of companies in the sector.
The European Parliament also having adopted a first opinion, the way is open for the second reading when parties will have to come to agreement on the final version. (MD/transl.rt)