24/06/2020 (Agence Europe) – The Member States’ Ambassadors to the European Union (Coreper) gave the go-ahead on Wednesday 24 June to the opening of interinstitutional negotiations on the Commission’s proposal to make 2021 the European Year of Rail (see EUROPE 12439/7). The main additions made by the EU Council to the original proposal (see EUROPE 12512/9) concern the role of railways in end-to-end mobility, the development of railway infrastructure, and information for rail passengers about their rights and the availability of single tickets valid with different companies. The EU Council also wishes to strengthen the evaluation of the results of European Year of Rail activities by introducing the use of key performance indicators by the Commission. The German EU Council Presidency, whose term of office will begin at the beginning of July, will initiate negotiations with Parliament on the final text. (AC)