Brussels, 15/05/2008 (Agence Europe) - The EU Council of Ministers adopted without debate on Wednesday 14 May the directive on interoperability of the rail system. The directive, which is part of the three proposals making up the Community railway package, specifies the conditions required for authorising the circulation, within the EU, of trains produced in member states. The text takes up the result of the European Parliament vote on 11 December 2007 (EUROPE 9562), which was the result of a compromise with the Council concerning, in particular: - automatic authorisation of vehicles; - the register of vehicle categories allowed to use the network (to be set in place by the European Rail Agency); - and mutual recognition of rolling stock.
In a statement, Germany challenges the separation introduced by the new directive between keepers of vehicles and the entities in charge of the maintenance of those vehicles (see also EUROPE 9515). According to Germany, vehicle keepers are the entities in charge of the maintenance of the vehicles and are therefore responsible for maintenance being carried out. Keepers of vehicles are not, however, under an obligation to carry out the maintenance themselves and may outsource maintenance to subcontractors. (A.By.)