Brussels, 30/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - France has caught the Commission off guard on the railways question. On Tuesday 30 October, the French minister for transport, Frédéric Cuvillier, announced the forthcoming merger of the national rail operator, SNCF with the Réseau Ferré de France (RFF) network managing body. This new direction on the railways in France is diametrically opposed to the goals of the Commission. The latter appears to be moving towards promoting a separate system in the fourth railway package, which still might come out this year.
No more decisions decided separately. Cuvillier announced the setting up of a unified infrastructure management body, the (GIU), which would be a publicly owned national company. It would bring together the RFF, a body responsible for rolling stock, and SNCF Infra employees. In the French newspaper, Le Monde, he explained that, “there will no longer be two separate undertakings making different decisions”. This French reorganisation does not fit very well with the orientations in the fourth railway package, which makes the drawing up of clear criteria ensuring separation between the different entities a priority. Could the new French shift further impact on the drafting of legislation on the railways? Undoubtedly within a French context but for the Commission it's a different matter:
Commission sticking to its guns. On Monday before the announcement of the French merger, the European Commissioner for transport, Siim Kallas, asserted that he would, “take into account all the different developments” including the most recent ones in France. Asked to comment on the subject by EUROPE, at the end of the Transport Council on Monday, 29 October, he particularly highlighted the fact that, “for us it is clear that there must be a clear separation between infrastructure management bodies and the operators. What form this will take still needs to be discussed, but we must absolutely avoid cross-subsidies occurring between the different undertakings”.
Paris to invite itself to Brussels. Cuvillier also explained in Le Monde that, “in respect of the separation sought by Brussels, each different country has its traditions and own situation to take into account. Europe must allow each country to organise itself as it wishes, as long as it provides guarantees of access to all the different private railway operators”. Cuvillier also intends to, “bring Brussels a clear and strong vision in the debate now beginning” and provided assurances that with regard to the fourth railway package in the hands of Commissioner Kallas, “We'll write it together!” (MD/transl.fl)