Brussels, 14/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - In Brussels on Friday 14 March, European transport ministers agreed to reduce the certification and licensing costs for trains in Europe and end hidden discrimination introduced in the licensing procedures.
The ministers agreed on a common approach to the draft regulation on the European Railway Agency (ERA) recently added to the Council of Ministers' negotiating position on the fourth railway package.
European Railway Agency. The ministers agreed on a division of labour between the ERA and national rail authorities for the issuing of certificates and licenses for rolling stock. They agreed that the compromise solution was balanced and would move reform of the railways forward.
A two-pronged system is preferred, as laid down in the revised EU directives on rail interoperability and safety (part of the technical rules). The idea is for ERA to provide the documents needed for trains for international transport, and for national safety authorities to keep control of certificates for domestic trains. The draft rules state that ERA and national authorities will work together on an equal footing. European Commissioner for Transport Siim Kallas has expressed doubts about the Transport Council's general approach, because the initial plans for ERA to be a one-stop-shop have been watered down.
An appeals system will be introduced so that independent verdicts can be given in disputes between ERA and national rail authorities. The member states have welcomed the fact that the language system for the ERA will allow the use of all the EU's official languages, but some delegations (Germany, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Slovakia and Poland) are concerned about the potential costs of translation for ERA. The general approach says that the ERA's charges must be transparent. A French proposal was added to the regulation to establish a climate of confidence to ensure good cooperation between ERA and national authorities by softening the impact of ERA audits of national authorities.
Future work. Now that the technical issues have been settled, the European ministers will focus on the political arm of the fourth rail package, and more specifically on the question of governance, liberalisation of domestic passenger transport, and public service contracts. On behalf of the Greek Presidency, the Greek transport minister said that work would continue in this domain despite the looming European elections. Italy's transport minister said his country wanted to continue with this work when Italy takes over from the Greek Presidency for six months on 1 July 2014. In the best case scenario, a general approach could be reached by the Transport Council on technical issues by the end of the year and talks could then begin with the European Parliament. The Parliament has already adopted its negotiating position in first reading. (MD)