Brussels, 04/10/2005 (Agence Europe) - At the Transport Council in Luxembourg on 6 October, the EU25 transport ministers will hold their first debate on the draft directive on developing EU railways (the third rail package) and the revised draft regulation on rail and road public transport adopted on 20 July 2005 (they will only be looking at rail issues). On the first time, the ministers are expected to look in detail at the implications of liberalising international passenger rail services (cabotage) and the criteria set out in the European Commission's 8 March 2004 proposal to preserve an economic balance with public service contracts. The British Presidency wants agreement to be reached on cabotage and whether or not the directive should also apply to domestic rail services and whether or not rail passenger services should be further and more rapidly liberalised, following the vote in first reading at the European Parliament on 28 September on the third rail package (EUROPE 9038). The package has been unravelled to an extent since three other legislative proposals (passenger rights and duties; onboard staff certification; and improving freight transport) have already been debated by the Council, but this Council meeting will jointly examine the issue of opening international passenger services and public service obligations and public tendering for rail and road passenger services.