Brussels, 09/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - The College of European Commissioners appears prepared to lend its full support to the fourth railway package being prepared by DG Transport and to complete separation between infrastructure managers and service operators. On Wednesday 9 January, Commissioners held a policy debate on the subject during their first meeting of 2013.
The European transport commissioner was looking to to assess the lie of the land by setting out his intentions for his colleagues, in an effort to obtain their approval before bringing forward the proposal at the end of the month. European Commission spokesperson, Pia Ahrenkilde, said that the College had given its full support for the main components of the package currently being prepared for reform of the railway sector. This will include a fully functioning standardisation and authorisation system, a more significant role for the European Railway Agency in this context and greater market access for new companies entering the sector. She also highlighted the importance of having an efficient structure and subsequently enhancing the role of infrastructure management bodies.
Full separation. The crucial red line in this fourth railway package involves separation between infrastructure management bodies and service operators. One European source said that the Commissioner would opt for full separation, on which he received the full support of his colleagues. This would mean the end of the model of holding companies that has persisted in Europe but this and other issues will still require further work on the relevant details, according to Commission sources.
The package consists of six legislative proposals and two communications. It is not, therefore, expected to encounter any difficulty in obtaining approval from the College over the next few weeks. (MD/transl.fl)