Brussels, 30/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - Before he unveiled the fourth EU rail package, EU Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas was in close contact with the French and German governments and the last-minute adjustments were apparently due to pressure from the two countries.
The French and German transport ministers, Frederic Cuvillier and Peter Ramsauer respectively, reacted immediately to push their message home. France says that it is for the member states to decide on the right governance model for themselves, and Germany says the holding system that enabled its railway industry to grow (dominated by Deutsch Bahn) must remain in place.
Cuvillier said he welcomed the Commission's fourth rail package and wants to do what he can, alluding to the planned rail reforms in France to attach the unified infrastructure manager at the SNCF to a single public, unified railway unit, as part of the development of an EU rail area. He said that, when France determines the shape of the new system, it will unveil measures to ensure impartial functioning of the infrastructure manager in its principle work of ensuring non-discriminatory access to the network. Cuvillier said, however, that it was for each member state to determine the appropriate governance model while respecting these principles.
Ramsauer reacted in similar vein but much more categorically, stating bluntly that following publication of the fourth rail package, a company's structure is no longer the only criterion for ensuring the success of European railways. He said a rigid ideological view based on a single model does not suit the very diverse situations in the member states. He stated, therefore, that the EU objective of fair trade can also be reached using integrated structures, like the German success story, whose rail network is developing in a positive manner. He said the flourishing of the German market has confirmed this model in an impressive manner compared with other markets. Perhaps his comments suggest that Germany had been granted everything it was demanding.
During presentation of the new rules, however, the transport commissioner said he had been subject to pressure from all sides and Germany, in particular, had had something to say. He added that the separation of rail track and passenger services needed demystifying because it was not an ideology. (MD/transl.fl)