After 4 hours of negotiations (see EUROPE 12600/42), the European Parliament and the Council of the EU reached a provisional agreement on Thursday 12 November on the Commission’s proposal to make 2021 the European Year of Rail (see EUROPE 12439/7), but were unable to agree on definitive funding.
The co-legislators are counting on this initiative to promote rail as a sustainable, innovative and safe mode of transport, capable of guaranteeing essential services even in times of crisis. This European Year should also make it possible to raise awareness of the European cross-border dimension of rail transport.
In other words, it will be a question of “giving a boost to the sector and to encourage more tourists, business people and manufacturers to choose the train”, said German Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer, whose country currently holds the rotating EU Presidency. Events and initiatives will be organised in this respect in the Member States throughout the year.
“We want to stimulate meaningful discussions on how we can increase the number of passengers and goods travelling by rail, in line with our climate ambitions”, said Anna Deparnay-Grunenberg (Greens/EFA, Germany), European Parliament rapporteur on this dossier.
Budget uncertainties
Still a grey area, however. As regards the funds allocated to this initiative, it was simply decided to specify, by means of a recital, that financial allocations by Parliament and the EU Council, as budgetary authority, would be necessary.
As there is still uncertainty as to the exact amount of funding for EU programmes in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (see EUROPE 12600/3), the co-legislators agreed to aim for funding for the 2 years, 2021 and 2022, of at least 8 million euros.
MEPs’ ambitions in this area have, in any case, been revised downwards (see EUROPE 12588/8).
European Label and Connectivity Index
The provisional agreement also invites the Commission to consider launching two feasibility studies. One on the creation of a “rail connectivity index” similar to the one that exists for the air sector, aimed at identifying areas where investment would be needed. The other, on the creation of a “European label” to promote goods and products transported by rail.
The Member States had indicated that they would support the first proposal (see EUROPE 12579/13), provided that Parliament supported the second.
Both institutions wish to be kept informed of the Commission’s plans from now until the end of March 2021.
Next steps
The provisional agreement reached on Thursday will still have to be approved by the EU Council and Parliament. The text will be submitted next week to the Member States’ ambassadors to the EU.
It will then have to be voted on by the Committee on Transport (TRAN) and the plenary before the EU Council can adopt its position at first reading. Finally, the text will enter into force as soon as it is published in the Official Journal of the EU. (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)