Although the European Parliament transport committee in June revealed differences of interpretation regarding the revision of regulation 1371/2007 on railway passengers' rights and responsibilities between the rapporteur, Bogusław Liberadzki (S&D, Poland) and the shadow rapporteurs (see EUROPE 12045), the latter appear to agree on obtaining a majority on the main points ahead of the continued discussions.
It should be recalled that these discussions are part of the European Commission’s proposal of September 2017 to make the text more effective (see EUROPE 11872). Although the differences had already been observed during the European Parliament transport committee debates (see EUROPE 11984), the meeting between the shadow rapporteurs on 12 June, appeared to have helped produce compromise amendments on the key points.
The presentation of the different amendments by Mr Liberadzki to his colleagues, however, created surprise amongst the latter and the initial vote planned for 21 June was therefore postponed (see EUROPE 12044).
Although the next negotiators' meeting was due to take place on 11 September, it would, however, appear that several shadow rapporteurs agree on the main principles for reaching the required majority. According to the information we have received, these MEPs involve Renaud Muselier (EPP, France), Jens Rohde (ALDE, Denmark), Michael Cramer (Greens/EFA, Germany) and Tania González Peñas (GUE/NGL, Spain).
On the question of the future text’s contents, these MEPs agreed on a 100% reimbursement for train tickets in the event of delays lasting more than two hours, the inclusion of regional railway services in the regulation's scope and there being no exemptions to railway companies' responsibilities in the event of “exceptional natural disasters”, contrary to what the Commission had proposed.
The shadow rapporteurs did not, however, reach a compromise on the question of allowing bicycles on board trains.
Although a vote was normally expected to take place on 9 October at the European Parliament transport committee, the reticence displayed by Mr Liberadzki to have the current position of the negotiators adopted could delay this vote.
Move towards new progress report at Council of the EU. Although the position of the MEPs could possibly be endorsed over the next few weeks, the adoption of a general approach at the Council of the European Union appears unlikely under the Austrian Presidency.
It should be recalled that a rather modest progress report had been drawn up by the Union's transport ministers during their meeting in Luxembourg on 7 June last (see EUROPE 12029, 12035).
Examination of the different articles in the Commission proposal was carried out at the Council working party by the national experts, but no progress has been reported since the adoption of this progress report.
Although the Commission is encouraging the Transport Ministers to adopt a general approach before the end of the year, this is not expected to happen. No meeting of experts in this connection is planned for September and no schedule has been worked out for the next few months. It is highly likely that a new progress report will therefore be submitted to ministers in December, which is expected to mention certain key points.
It is therefore quite unlikely that the inter-institution negotiations (‘trilogues’) between the Council and European Parliament will be able to produce a final text before the European elections in May 2019. (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)