Umeå, 25/09/2014 (Agence Europe) - A stormy debate is looking likely with regard to railway reform and the Transport Council reflection beginning on the political chapter. Ministers are expected to put their cards on the table during the Transport Council on 8 October, with regard to opening up the railway passenger market and answering the three questions raised by the Italian presidency.
COREPER acknowledged these questions on Wednesday 24 September. The delegations will also have to say whether they agree with the principle of definitively opening up the railway market, in which passenger transport is the final sphere to be liberalised as a means to “contribute to efficiency and quality of the sector”. Transport ministers will also have to examine the way in which public service can be ensured and whether there should be a transition period for opening up the market. They will also have to outline the measures they believe are needed for such a transition period in order to ensure fair competition between the different railway operators and subsequently, non-discriminatory network access, irrespective of whether the network is managed by an integrated structure or not. Ministers will also have to express their opinions on the principle of competitive allocation for public service markets and define how they are going to tackle the question of profitable and unprofitable lines.
The Italian presidency will therefore seek to ensure that member states assume their responsibilities, as well as their sometimes-contradictory positions, by opening up this kind of debate, where the level of sensitivity with regard to this subject is particularly high in the different member states. The presidency has, however, already gauged the level of challenge involved by granting four minutes to the delegations to develop their respective responses, which is longer than is ordinarily the case.
During this meeting, ministers will also tackle the issue of what amendments should be made to the European regulation on cross-border highway code infringements. (MD)