Brussels, 04/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - At a Council meeting on Tuesday evening 5 June, the conciliation procedure on the third rail package, which seeks to liberalise international passenger transport, is due to be formally opened by the Parliament and Council delegations. A compromise could be found if, among other things, the Parliament gives up its call for rail operators to be liable for compensation payments if regional or suburban trains are late or are cancelled, as proposed by Belgian rapporteur Dirk Sterckx (ALDE).
Disagreement centres on the widening of the scope of the directive on rights and responsibilities of international passengers to include national passengers, something that the Parliament wants. Member states fear high costs for rail operators who would be required to pay compensation to both national and international passengers if a train was late or cancelled. Parliament is expected, however, to come into line with the Council position, proposing compensation for all journeys except suburban and regional journeys, say sources close to the matter.
Two other open questions relate to the report by German MEP Georg Jarzembowski (EPP-ED) on the draft directive on the development of European railways. The delegations will have to agree on tariffs to be set for using rail infrastructure in international journeys and on the date on which the Commission will present its report on the state of preparedness of national passenger transport services for the opening of the rail market. (aby)