Brussels, 25/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - Representatives of the European institutions were keen to express their support for the Spanish nation after the rail accident on Wednesday 24 July. Eighty people died and over a hundred were injured in the incident, which occurred near Santiago de Compostela.
Speaking on behalf of the European Commission, President José Manuel Barroso sent his sincerest condolences to the Spanish prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, expressing his solidarity and support for the families of those who have lost their lives or been injured. The Council president, Herman Van Rompuy, and the president of Parliament, Martin Schulz, also expressed their deep sorrow. Schulz expressed gratitude to the rescuers and volunteers who helped to save lives.
European Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas presented his condolences to his Spanish counterpart, Ana Pastor Julian, asserting that the European Commission and the European agency for rail safety will closely monitor the investigations conducted by Spanish authorities. On his Twitter account, the commissioner noted that it was “now important to let the Spanish authorities establish all the facts and only then we shall know if actions need also to be taken at European level”.
At this stage, the press reports that the accident was due to excessive speed. According to a European Commission expert, this section of the railway did not seem to have been fitted with a European automatic braking system, the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS), although Spain is a “a fine example” in this respect, the same source said. (MD/transl.jl)