Brussels, 06/03/2013 (Agence Europe) - The names are starting to come in for the rapporteurs to be appointed on the controversial fourth railway package. Following the announcement of Robert Zile (CRE, Latvia) as rapporteur on the reform of the European Railways Agency, Belgium's Saïd El Khadraoui (S&D) has been confirmed for the plank given over to the liberalisation of domestic passenger transport (directive 2012: 34/EU). The MEP confirmed this on Wednesday 6 March and has already nailed his colours to the mast: “I have no problem with more competition on longer journeys, such as between Brussels and Paris, or Lyon and Marseille. But very often, domestic rail transport is not profitable, which is why it is subsidised through open public service contracts. There has to be flexibility depending on the different situations in the different countries, particularly as regards the public service contracts”, he told the press (our translation).
The legislative work will be able to start at the European Parliament, as is also the case at the Council. The 27 transport ministers will discuss the interoperability plank at the “Transport” Council of Monday 11 March. (MD/transl.fl)