Only a few months remain for the EU Council and the European Parliament to reach agreement on the Commission's proposal to make 2021 the European Year of Rail (see EUROPE 12439/7), so that the necessary preparations can be launched in time.
The meeting of the Permanent Representatives of the Member States (Coreper) on Wednesday 24 June will therefore deal, inter alia, with this dossier: the national ambassadors will examine a draft Croatian compromise, a copy of which EUROPE has obtained, and will be asked to approve a negotiating mandate with the Parliament on that basis.
This 'European Year', the text emphasises, should make it possible to promote the railways and thus increase the share of passengers and freight transported by rail.
The initiative will also aim to strengthen the cross-border dimension of rail and its contribution to the European economy and industry and to make it "an important element" in relations between the Union and partner countries such as the Western Balkans.
The text put forward by Zagreb - which the Commission has, for the time being, indicated that it continues to have reservations on - suggests, amongst other suggestions, the holding of awareness-raising events or campaigns "aimed at encouraging changes in passenger, consumer and business behaviour".
It is further proposed that the Commission launch a study on the viability of a European label to promote goods and products transported by rail and to encourage companies to shift their transport to rail. The institution will have to inform Parliament and the EU Council of its plans before 31 December 2021.
"Area of Concern"
In addition, the project details measures to ensure the coordination of this initiative at national and European level.
As regards the Member States, it is simply stated that they will have to ensure the coordination of activities at national level. However, the designation of dedicated national authorities is no longer envisaged. As for the Commission, it would convene regular meetings in the presence of State representatives.
Finally, the European institution is expected to report to the European Parliament, the EU Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the European Committee of the Regions on the implementation and results of the 'European Year'.
However, the text states that this monitoring, the coordination of actions within States, as well as the focus on partner countries have been called into question and flags this as a "cause for concern".
To consult the draft compromise: https://bit.ly/2Z072tb
Political pressure
On the European Parliament's side, the report on the Commission's proposal has been entrusted to Anna Deparnay-Grunenberg (Greens/EFA, Germany).
The latter presented her work on Tuesday 23 June to her colleagues on the Transport Committee (TRAN).
In particular, she presented the problem of rail's lack of competitiveness as one of the "key ideas" of her draft report and stressed the need to make train travel more attractive by improving quality, taking account of the needs of people with disabilities or developing the intermodal approach, for example.
"It's not just a marketing exercise, we must also use this opportunity to exert our political pressure", she concluded.
The TRAN Committee plans to adopt the draft report at its September session. A plenary vote should then take place in November. (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)