Brussels, 30/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - The rail industry is cranking up the pressure on the European institutions so that the technical pillar of the fourth rail package is adopted by the European elections in 2014.
The technical pillar aims to ensure interoperability and safety and to strengthen the European Railway Agency (ERA) by establishing a one stop shop for the certification of rolling stock. In a joint press release, the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) and the European Rail Industry Association (UNIFE) pointed out, on 26 July, that the rail sector urgently needed the technical pillar in order to remain “competitive in and for Europe”. UNIFE Director Philippe Citroën, said: “The European industry needs a strong and large home market to develop. In this sense, the technical pillar is not purely technical - it is an important element of competitiveness for our industry and of industrial policy”. The two associations welcomed the fact that a general approach had been reached under Irish Presidency on the interoperability directive and urge the Lithuanian Presidency of the EU Council to reach a general approach on the safety directive and on the regulation relating to the European Railway Agency. They also call on the Parliament to keep to its ambitious timetable and to adopt the technical pillar as swiftly as possible. (MD/transl.jl)