25/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday, the Council gave the definitive thumbs-down to the European Parliament's 13 January 2007 amendments to the third rail package (see EUROPE 9347). The Council meeting of EU education, youth and culture ministers decided without debate not to approve the European Parliament's amendments to the three pieces of draft legislation (a regulation on extending EU railways, a regulation on the rights and duties of international rail passengers, and train driver qualifications) and to convene the Conciliation Committee on the issue on 5 June. Unlike the European Parliament, several member states oppose the idea of extending the scope of the regulation on international passengers to the rights and duties of national rail passengers. (aby)