Brussels, 12/09/2000 (Agence Europe) - UNICE, representing the European employers, calls on the European Parliament to "continue its fight" for rail liberalisation in Europe, at a time when road transport is encountering an increasing number of obstacles. UNICE welcomed the vote by the European Parliament, which, while approving the report by Georg Jarzembowski in July, opposed the Council compromise and reintroduced the aim of complete European rail liberalisation by 2010 (see EUROPE of 7 July, p.13, and ¾ July, p.10). In a manifesto presented to the chairman of the European Parliament's Committee on Transport, Constantinos Hatzidakis, the chairman of the UNICE transport working group, Wolfgang Dubiel, calls on MEPs to keep to this line with a view to the conciliation procedure to open on 12 October.
"Road transport, both national and international, is experiencing more and more obstacles due to traffic congestion and limitations on freight transport. European business would happily embrace rail transport as an alternative, but unfortunately it cannot rely on a properly functioning and competitive supply of rail transport services", states UNICE. "The only way to revitalise rail transport is to introduce competition on the railways and free access for new rail transport suppliers. European market for road, inland waterway, sea and air transport have been liberalised. There is no reason why rail should lag behind", stated Wolfgang Dubiel. UNICE is supported in this approach by the European Chemical Industry Council, the European Shippers' Council, Eurocommerce and Eurochamber.