Brussels, 23/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - On 23 January, the European Commission sent Germany, Denmark, Poland and Portugal written warnings about shortcomings in their transposition of EU transport rules, giving the governments of the countries concerned two months to provide explanations to the Commission or to comply, or be sent to the European Court of Justice.
Germany has received a warning because it has not yet ratified the EU-United States 2007 agreement on air services, the only country not to have done so. The Commission says that the deal provides new commercial freedoms for operators by liberalising the transatlantic market.
Denmark has failed to properly transpose the investigation rules of EU Directive 2004/49/EC on railway safety, which should have been in place in 2006. Denmark's failure is hindering proper rail management, safety surveillance and incident investigation. The Commission says that Portugal has failed to ensure the separation of rail infrastructure and railways required in EU Directive 2012/34/EU. The Commission fears that public funds for rail track will be used as subsidies for other transport services.
Portugal has also been sent a written warning about the transport of hazardous goods, such as industrial chemicals, hydrocarbons and explosives, because it has not yet transposed the updated EU directive in this connection. (MD/transl.fl)