Brussels, 10/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - Belgium is renouncing the holding company model for its railway organisation, a few weeks before the European Commission unveils its fourth railway package which is expected to open fire on the remaining holding company models in Europe.
Paul Magnette, the Belgian minister of public bodies, announced the new structure on Wednesday 9 January. The Commission hailed the initiative saying: “The model chosen by the Belgian authorities can serve as an interesting reference for other member states intending to launch rail reforms in the near future. This reform appears to be largely in line with the measures the Commission intends to promote in its railway package at the end of January”.
Belgium's change of direction opens the way for a clear separation between the infrastructure manager, Infrabel, and the incumbent services operator, SNCB/NMBS, which until now have been brought together in a holding company. Ahead of time, then, the Belgian government has opted for a transparency approach between the railway operators - an approach long recommended by European Commissioner for Transport Siim Kallas, which he is due to formulate legally by presenting the fourth railway package on 23 or 30 January.
The structural reform proposed by the Belgian operator still has to be backed by the council of ministers and Belgian parliament. The Belgian unions are very unhappy with the move as they favour returning to a single structure for the two entities. The European Rail Freight Association (ERFA) has welcomed the “consistent and courageous approach” of the Belgian government, recognising a simplification of structure that will thus generate savings. (MD/transl.fl)