Compatibility of French law on Greater Paris with the interpretation of Regulation (EC) No 1370/2007
28.6.2011
Question for written answer E-006666/2011
to the Commission
Rule 117
Nathalie Griesbeck (ALDE) and Marielle De Sarnez (ALDE)
On 30 September 2010 we tabled Written Question No E‑8155/2010 concerning Greater Paris and the interpretation of Articles 5(2) and 8(2) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 1370/2007 on public passenger transport services by rail and by road. In that question we asked the Commission about the compatibility of French Law No 2010-597 on Greater Paris — which amends the Order of 7 January 1959, providing that transport services created before 3 December 2009 can continue to be provided by the Paris public transport system (RATP) until 2024 in the case of bus services, 2029 in the case of tram services and 2039 in the case of metro and RER services — with Regulation (EC) No 1370/2007, which provides that, under certain conditions, local authorities may operate local public transport services themselves via an internal operator without competitive tendering.
In Commissioner Kallas’s answer to Question No E‑8155/2010, given on behalf of the Commission on 15 November 2010, he stated that the Commission had contacted the French authorities to request details of every decision concerning the allocation of services or lines to the RATP pursuant to the Order of 7 September 1959, and that we would be informed of its conclusions concerning the various issues raised. We have not yet received any information. It should be added that the Paris public transport authority (Syndicat des transports d'Île-de-France, or STIF) recently began talks with the RATP with a view to extending the latter’s current contract by means of an additional clause.
In the light of the above, a number of questions arise:
- 1.Has the Commission received the information promised by the French authorities? If so, can it provide details?
- 2.Does it intend to give a prompt indication of its conclusions as to the compatibility of the French law on Greater Paris with the interpretation of Articles 5(2) and 8(2) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 1370/2007 on public passenger transport services by rail and by road? If not, why not?
- 3.Does it consider an extension of the contract between the STIF and RATP by means of an additional clause to be consistent with EU legislation? If so, why?
OJ C 128 E, 03/05/2012