Brussels / Strasbourg, 03/07/2000 (Agence Europe) - German MEP (EPP) Georg Jarzembowski urges Parliament to confront the Council over the liberalisation of rail transport. In his report on amending Directive 91/440 (development of the Community railways), to be debated in plenary in Strasbourg on Tuesday, and the vote on second reading on Thursday, the Euro-MP reestablishes the main amendments rejected by the Council. In particular, he has maintained the amendment that stipulates that access will be extended "to the whole railway network in all Member States (…) in 2010 at the latest", whereas the compromise reached within the Council last December, following a rowdy discussion, provided for the opening of European railways to competition being initially limited to a trans-European freight railway network.. Georg Jarzembowski considers that that the goal of complete liberalisation for the network as a whole has to be stated "expressis verbis" in the directive, "even if the implementing modalities for the later stage, the liberalisation of passenger transport, will have to be drawn up apart at a later stage".
Should Parliament follow its rapporteur on Thursday, a conciliation procedure between the EP and Council will no doubt be necessary for the directive to be adopted, directive that is the cornerstone of the "rail package", organising the opening of rail to competition. The EP's Transport Committee adopted the Jarzembowski Report with 33 in favour, 7 against and 15 abstentions.