Brussels, 28/08/2014 (Agence Europe) - With negotiations on railway reform (fourth railway package) to resume after the summer break, the new operators have redrawn their lines in the sand, prompting us to review some of the key elements of this highly complex dossier, to refresh the memory ahead of the talks.
The European Rail Freight Association (ERFA) has brought together the demands of the non-historic freight and passenger transport operators in a position published on 27 August, to make sure that it is well placed in the queue for the attention of the new members of the European Parliament when they return after the summer break.
On railway governance, the political pillar of the fourth railway package, ERFA recommends establishing clear rules to ensure that the alliances between the infrastructure managers and transport operators guarantee equal treatment and fair competition. With this in mind, financial transparency, a vast battlefield, must be established through clear rules on the independence of the railway holding companies. The infrastructure managers should also be assured of being fully able to carry out as many functions as possible, such as capacity allocation, setting tariffs, investment, planning, maintenance and operations. As for the public service obligation, the newcomers recommend making as much use as possible of the tendering process, in order to limit direct awards of public contracts as far as possible, so as to guarantee fair competition and prevent any unfair treatment of market players.
Readers may recall that the European Parliament has already adopted a negotiation mandate on the fourth railway package (see EUROPE 11027). However, three of the six rapporteurs on this package were not re-elected in the European elections of May of this year. That means that three new MEPs must familiarise themselves with the report and negotiate on that basis in the future. The reporting responsibilities are likely to be allocated at a meeting of the political groups next week.
For its part, the Council has reached an agreement on the technical pillar of the fourth railway package, largely covering the division of responsibilities for the authorisation and certification of trains between the national authorities and the European Railways Agency (see EUROPE 11095). The Italian Presidency hopes to lead the transport ministers to an agreement on the political plank by the end of the year. After that, trialogue negotiations can officially start between the European institutions on railway reform, although initial contact may begin this autumn on the technical elements. (MD)