On Wednesday 16 September the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Council of the EU (Coreper) discussed the German Presidency's proposals on the revision of the Regulation on rail passengers’ rights and obligations (1371/2007).
It then gave the go-ahead for the resumption of inter-institutional negotiations on the subject, which had been held up by the Covid-19 pandemic (see EUROPE 12496/32).
Negotiators from the European Parliament and the Council of the EU will therefore meet for a fourth trilogue on this dossier, which should take place on 1 October.
According to the information obtained by EUROPE, many points remain to be clarified, but six, “particularly political”, should require significant work.
First of all, the scope of the text, in particular the extension of the exemptions granted to certain domestic rail passenger services, the conditions of carriage of bicycles on trains and the use of ‘through-tickets’.
In addition, there are the issues of re-routing, assistance to persons with reduced mobility and, finally, compensation for delays.
The previous trilogue, held on 23 June last, did not allow any progress to be made, nor did it even give rise to detailed analyses or negotiations, as Parliament preferred to suspend discussions after the presentation of the compromises (see EUROPE 12513/14).
The EU Council hopes to see this fourth attempt succeed, according to one institutional source. Since July, exchanges of views with the Parliament have continued, the German Presidency of the EU Council has consulted delegations and organised several technical meetings. The next one should take place on Tuesday 22 September. (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)