Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats
The European Union will soon have a more efficient and competitive railway system after a deal was reached yesterday between the Council and the European Parliament on the recast of the Railway Package. This agreement, still to be ratified officially by the Council and by the plenary of the Parliament, will facilitate the access to more services and infrastructures in national railway systems within the EU.
S&D negotiator, Euro MP Debora Serracchiani, said: "The Parliament has made its voice heard. We reached a good compromise which foresees substantial improvements to the first railway package.
"We Socialists and Democrats particularly welcome the introduction of clear deadlines for the establishment of independent regulators. We push for shorter deadlines than those proposed by the Council.
"At the same time, the role of the regulatory body has been strengthened. This independent body with sanction powers will permit fair competition as well as transparent pricing and investment on the European railway network."
There will be a network of national regulatory bodies to coordinate their decision-making. An ordinary complaint procedure will take a maximum of six weeks with an extensive procedure taking a maximum of 16 weeks.
S&D spokesperson on transport, Euro MP Saïd El Khadraoui, said: "We achieved an important step towards a European Railway Area. We give stability and legal certainty to the sector, we prepare the way to a European Railway Agency with more powers on the homologation and certification of rolling stock.
"We are looking forward to the fourth Railways Package to bring more dynamism to the whole sector and to make sure that it will be as competitive as road and aviation."
Victoria Martín de la Torre
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S&D welcome agreement on railway package which will bring efficiency and transparency. S&D spokesperson on transport, Euro MP Saïd El Khadraoui, said: 'We achieved an important step towards a European Railway Area. We give stability and legal certainty to the sector, we prepare the way to a European Railway Agency with more powers on the homologation and certification of rolling stock'
S&D welcome agreement on railway package which will bring efficiency and transparency. S&D negotiator, Euro MP Debora Serracchiani, said: 'The Parliament has made its voice heard. We reached a good compromise which foresees substantial improvements to the first railway package'
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