Brussels, 06/12/2005 (Agence Europe) - On 14 November, President Barroso wrote to the President of the European Parliament Josep Borrell and to the President of the Council Jack Straw, to explain the position of the Commission on the proposed regulation aiming to improve the quality of rail freight by dint of a compensation system in case of delays in deliveries. The EP had rejected the proposal at the plenary session of 25 October, approving the report by Roberts Zîle calling for its withdrawal (EUROPE 9057), and the "Transport" Council of 6 October had indicated that it would also oppose it (EUROPE 9043). The vice-president of the European Commission in charge of Transport, Jacques Barrot, has, on many occasions, stressed the need to improve the quality of rail freight, particularly for international services. In 2005, only two-thirds of trains involved in international freight transport arrived on time, as President Barroso pointed out in his letter. The two co-legislators approve the objective pursued by the Commission, but they are challenging the means it intends to use, criticising it, amongst other things, for having drawn up a proposal without first having carried out an impact study on the effects of introducing this kind of quality clause in rail goods transport contracts. Taking account of these two elements, the Commission undertakes to submit a report, by the end of 2007, showing to what extent the introduction of quality clauses calling for compensation in case of delays would have a beneficial effect on the competitiveness of the sector. In the meantime, Commissioner Barrot is maintaining his objective of improving the quality of rail freight, "by working with the sector without legislating", said his spokesperson Stefaan de Rynck.