Brussels, 27/10/2003 (Agence Europe) - The Community of European Railways (CER) and the European Transport Federation (ETF) reached a social agreement over the European rail market. The negotiations, the first between these social partners at the European level, began in February. They allowed for an agreement concerning: (1) the European train drivers licence, by defining 'minimum' European standards on abilities and health (for example over the frequency of medical checks on drivers) notably in order to facilitate the interoperability of personnel; (2) working conditions for mobile personnel employed on cross-border railway services by setting the length of rests and of driving times or forced rest periods in order to avoid, among others, social dumping. The two organisations still have to submit this agreement to their respective bodies in order to be able to officially sign it and allow it to enter into force in the coming weeks (normally at the end of December). This agreement, which once enforced will be obligatory for the members of both associations, will be presented to the European Commission. The CER and ETF hope that the Commission will take it into account when it presents its legislative proposals on the certification of train drivers.