Text tabled : A7-0196/2012

  Zbigniew Ziobro (EFD), in writing. – (PL) The Broad Gauge Metallurgical Railway Line, which is owned by the Polish national railway operator Polskie Koleje Państwowe, is part of the rail transport industry and is responsible for almost 400 km of broad-gauge railway line. Between 2001 and 2010, the company invested PLN 386.3 million in its operations. In the same period, the company also spent PLN 421.8 million on repairs and renovation. This money came from the company’s own funds and has enabled the company to adapt successfully to changing market conditions. The line itself is directly connected with countries from outside the EU and with their broad-gauge transport system, and should be excluded from the rules concerning the single railway area. I support the retention of Amendment 12 to Article 2, which was adopted in November last year, and, in connection with this, I also hope the company will be able to continue operating on its current basis. The amendment was adopted by a ratio of 2 votes to 1 in Parliament, and in Committee was also adopted by the same proportion. Unfortunately, Parliament has succumbed to pressure from the Commission and the Council and rejected the amendment. I am therefore opposed to the entire report, which has the potential to exacerbate the collapse which has occurred in railway transport in some of the EU’s Member States.