Brussels, 23/10/2014 (Agence Europe) - Inter-institutional negotiations have been launched on the technical pillar in the 4th railway package. An initial trilogue meeting took place in Strasbourg on Thursday 23 October on the three proposals in the regulation making up this pillar. According to our sources, this was done in a positive atmosphere.
Discussions were launched under the impetus of the Italian presidency and attended by the three European Commission rapporteurs. More importantly, the discussions allowed room to present the points of view of each party. On each of the regulations (railway safety, interoperability and the European Railway Agency), negotiators examined the respective definitions and scope. Although no agreement had been obtained at the beginning of the work, the working environment was both positive and constructive, explained a source close to the dossier. The team is expected to meet up again on 13 November and again on 3 December, with the possibility of speeding up the pace in December, if the work proves conclusive.
This trilogue on the technical pillar is able to take place because the European Parliament has a mandate for negotiating the entire package and the Council has its respective mandate on the technical pillar alone (the political pillar is currently being examined). While an approach on the political questions and whole package has not yet been obtained at the Council, it is certain that no inter-institutional agreement at the trilogue will be reached on the technical pillar. This is even more likely given that none of the institutions is prepared to separate the package. Nonetheless, in the meantime, the starting up of inter-institutional negotiations on the technical aspects, will allow progress to be made on rail reform, in full knowledge that it is easier to negotiate on three regulations at once than six in one go. (MD)