REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 on common rules for access to the international market for coach and bus services
28.1.2019 - (COM(2017)0647 – C8‑0396/2017 – 2017/0288(COD)) - ***I
Committee on Transport and Tourism
Rapporteur: Roberts Zīle
DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION
on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 on common rules for access to the international market for coach and bus services
(COM(2017)0647 – C8‑0396/2017 – 2017/0288(COD))
(Ordinary legislative procedure: first reading)
The European Parliament,
– having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2017)0647),
– having regard to Article 294(2) and Article 91(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C8‑0396/2017),
– having regard to Article 294(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
– having regard to the reasoned opinion submitted, within the framework of Protocol No 2 on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality, by the Irish Houses of the Oireachtas, asserting that the draft legislative act does not comply with the principle of subsidiarity,
– having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee of 19 April 2018[1],
– after consulting the Committee of the Regions,
– having regard to Rule 59 of its Rules of Procedure,
– having regard to the report of the Committee on Transport and Tourism (A8-0032/2019),
1. Adopts its position at first reading hereinafter set out;
2. Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it replaces, substantially amends or intends to substantially amend its proposal;
3. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.
Amendment 1 Proposal for a regulation Recital 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) The application of Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council17 has revealed that operators in national markets are facing obstacles to the development of inter-urban coach services. Moreover, road passenger transport services have not kept pace with the evolving needs of citizens in terms of availability and quality and sustainable transport modes continue to have a low modal share. As a consequence, certain groups of citizens are placed at a disadvantage in terms of availability of passenger transport services, and there are more road accidents, emissions and congestion due to greater use of cars. |
(1) The application of Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council17 has revealed that some operators in national markets are facing unjustified obstacles to the development of inter-urban coach services of benefit to passengers. Moreover, road passenger transport services have not kept pace with the evolving needs of citizens in terms of availability and quality and sustainable transport modes continue to have a low modal share. As a consequence, certain groups of citizens are placed at a disadvantage in terms of availability of passenger transport services, and there are more road accidents, emissions, congestion and increased infrastructure costs due to greater use of cars. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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17 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 on common rules for access to the international market for coach and bus services, and amending Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 (OJ L 300, 14.11.2009, p. 88). |
17 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 on common rules for access to the international market for coach and bus services, and amending Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 (OJ L 300, 14.11.2009, p. 88). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amendment 2 Proposal for a regulation Recital 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(2) To ensure a coherent framework for the inter-urban carriage of passengers by regular coach and bus services throughout the Union, Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 should apply to all inter-urban carriage by regular services. The scope of that Regulation should therefore be extended. |
(2) To ensure a coherent framework for the inter-urban carriage of passengers by regular coach and bus services throughout the Union, Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 should apply to all inter-urban carriage by regular services. The scope of that Regulation should therefore be extended, but should not be applied to urban or suburban centres or conurbations and should be without prejudice to the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1370/2007. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amendment 3 Proposal for a regulation Recital 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(3) An independent and impartial regulatory body should be designated in each Member State to ensure the proper functioning of the road passenger transport market. That body may also be responsible for other regulated sectors such as rail, energy or telecommunications. |
(3) Each Member State should designate an independent and impartial regulatory body, with the task of issuing binding opinions, to ensure the proper functioning of the road passenger transport market. That body may also be responsible for other regulated sectors such as rail, energy or telecommunications. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amendment 4 Proposal for a regulation Recital 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(4) Commercial regular service operations should not compromise the economic equilibrium of existing public service contracts. For this reason, the regulatory body should be able to carry out an objective economic analysis to ensure that this is the case. |
(4) Commercial regular service operations should not compromise the economic equilibrium of existing or granted public service contracts in accordance with Regulation 1370/2007. For this reason, the regulatory body should be able to carry out an objective economic analysis and should have the authority, where appropriate, to propose measures necessary to ensure that this is the case. Commercial regular service operations should not compete with transport providers who have been granted exclusive rights to provide certain public passenger transport services in return for the discharge of public service obligations within the framework of a public service contract. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amendment 5 Proposal for a regulation Recital 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(5) Regular services in the form of cabotage operations should be conditional on the possession of a Community licence. In order to facilitate effective controls of those services by enforcement authorities, the rules regarding the issuing of Community licences should be clarified. |
(5) The operation of regular services in the form of cabotage operations should beconditional on the possession of a Community licence and the use of a smart tachograph in accordance with Chapter II of Regulation (EU) No 165/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council. In order to facilitate effective controls of those services by enforcement authorities, the rules regarding the issuing of Community licences should be clarified and the IMI module developed for the sending of posting declarations and electronic applications, enabling the inspectors carrying out the roadside checks to have direct real-time access to data and information contained in the European Register of Road Transport Undertakings (ERRU) and in the Internal Market Information System (IMI) and so as to ensure that social contributions are actually paid for posted bus drivers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amendment 6 Proposal for a regulation Recital 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(6) In order to ensure fair competition in the market, operators of regular services should be provided with access rights to terminals in the Union on fair, equitable, non-discriminatory and transparent terms. Appeals against decisions rejecting or limiting access should be lodged with the regulatory body. |
(6) In order to ensure fair competition in the market, operators of regular services should be provided with access rights to terminals in the Union on fair, equitable, non-discriminatory and transparent terms. The operation of a terminal should be approved by a national authority, which should verify which requirements are necessary and which must be fulfilled. Appeals against decisions rejecting or limiting access should be lodged with the regulatory body. Member States might exclude terminals that are owned and used solely by the terminal operator for its own road passenger transport services. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amendment 7 Proposal for a regulation Recital 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(8) Authorisation for both national and international regular services should be subject to an authorisation procedure. Authorisation should be granted, unless there are specific grounds for refusal attributable to the applicant, or the service would compromise the economic equilibrium of a public service contract. A distance threshold should be introduced to ensure that commercial regular service operations do not compromise the economic equilibrium of existing public service contracts. In the case of routes already served by more than one public service contract, it should be possible to increase that threshold. |
(8) Authorisation for both national and international regular services should be subject to an authorisation procedure. Authorisation should be granted, unless there are specific grounds for refusal attributable to the applicant, or the service would compromise the economic equilibrium of a public service contract. A distance threshold, determined by the Member States, which should in any event not exceed 100 kilometres journey distance, should be introduced to ensure that commercial regular service operations do not compromise the economic equilibrium of existing public service contracts. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amendment 8 Proposal for a regulation Recital 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(9) Non-resident carriers should be able to operate national regular services under the same conditions as resident carriers. |
(9) Non-resident carriers should be able to operate national regular services under the same conditions as resident carriers, as long as they have complied with road transport or other relevant provisions of national, Union and international law. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amendment 9 Proposal for a regulation Recital 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(10) Administrative formalities should be reduced as much as possible without abandoning the controls and penalties that guarantee the correct application and effective enforcement of Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009. The journey form constitutes an unnecessary administrative burden and should therefore be abolished. |
(10) Administrative formalities should be reduced where possible without abandoning the controls and penalties that guarantee the correct application and effective enforcement of Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amendment 10 Proposal for a regulation Recital 11 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(11) Local excursions are an authorised cabotage operation and are covered by the general rules on cabotage. The article on local excursions should therefore be deleted. |
deleted | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amendment 11 Proposal for a regulation Recital 14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Text proposed by the Commission |
Amendment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(14) In order to take into account market developments and technical progress the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union should be delegated to the Commission to amend Annexes I and II to Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009, and to supplement that Regulation with rules concerning the format of certificates for own-account transport operations, the format of applications for authorisations and authorisations themselves, the procedure and criteria to be followed to determine if a proposed service would compromise the economic equilibrium of a public service contract, and the reporting obligations of Member States. It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level, and that those consultations be conducted in line with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making18 . In particular, to ensure equal participation in the preparation of delegated acts, the European Parliament and the Council should receive all documents at the same time as the Member States’ experts, and the European Parliament and the Council experts should systematically have access to the Commission’s expert group meetings dealing with the preparation of delegated acts. |
(14) In order to take into account market developments and technical progress the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union should be delegated to the Commission to amend Annexes I and II to Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009, and to supplement that Regulation with rules concerning the format of certificates for own-account transport operations, the format of applications for authorisations and authorisations themselves, the procedure and criteria to be followed to determine if a proposed service would compromise the equilibrium of a public service contract, and the reporting obligations of Member States. It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level, and that those consultations be conducted in line with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making18 . In particular, to ensure equal participation in the preparation of delegated acts, the European Parliament and the Council should receive all documents at the same time as the Member States’ experts, and the European Parliament and the Council experts should systematically have access to the Commission’s expert group meetings dealing with the preparation of delegated acts. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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18 OJ L 123, 12.5.2016, p. 1. |
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Amendment 12 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 1 – paragraph 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 13 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point c Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 14 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point c Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 15 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point c Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 11 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 16 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point c Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 11 a (new) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Justification | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The public service contract should be defined pursuant to Regulation (EC) 1370/2007. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amendment 17 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point c Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 11 b (new) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 18 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 3a – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 19 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 3a – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 20 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 3a – paragraph 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 21 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 3a – paragraph 2 a (new) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 22 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 3a – paragraph 3 – point b | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 23 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 3a – paragraph 3 – point c | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 24 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 3a – paragraph 3 – point c a (new) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 25 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 3a – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 26 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 3a – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 27 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 3a – paragraph 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 28 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 3a – paragraph 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 29 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 5a – paragraph 1 a (new) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 30 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 5a – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 31 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 5a – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 32 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 5a – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 33 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 5a – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point a a (new) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 34 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 5a – paragraph 3 a (new) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 35 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 5b – paragraph 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 36 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 5b – paragraph 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 37 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 5b – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 38 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 10 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 8 – title | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 39 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 10 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 8 – paragraph 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 40 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 10 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 8 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 41 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 10 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 8 – paragraph 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 42 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 10 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 8 – paragraph 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 43 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 10 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 8 – paragraph 4 a (new) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 44 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 10 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 8 – paragraph 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 45 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 8a – title | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 46 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 8a – paragraph 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 47 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 8a – paragraph 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 48 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 8a – paragraph 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 49 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 8a – paragraph 3 a (new) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 50 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 8a – paragraph 3 b (new) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 51 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 8a – paragraph 3 c (new) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 52 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 8b – paragraph 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 53 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 8b – paragraph 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 54 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 8b – paragraph 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 55 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 8c – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 56 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 8c – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 – introductory part | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 57 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 8c – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 – point b | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 58 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 8c – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 – point c a (new) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 59 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 8c – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 – point d | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 60 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 8c – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 61 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 8d – paragraph 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 62 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 8d – paragraph 1 a (new) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 63 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 8d – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 64 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 8d – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 65 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 8 d – paragraph 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 66 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 8d – paragraph 5 a (new) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 67 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 13 a (new) Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 11 – paragraph 3 a (new) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32009R1073&qid=1548063430167&from=EN) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amendment 68 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 15 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 13 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(The reference in the header relating to the amending act (¨Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 15¨) corresponds to ¨Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 14¨ of the Commission’s Proposal. This discrepancy is caused by the incorrect numbering (Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 is duplicated) in the Commission’s proposal in all language versions except for the Greek one)) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Justification | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reintroduction of the relevant article is necessary to ensure that local excursions are considered as one single international transport service and not as cabotage operations. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amendment 69 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 16 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point b | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(The reference in the header relating to the amending act (¨Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 16¨) corresponds to ¨Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 15¨ of the Commission’s Proposal. This discrepancy is caused by the incorrect numbering (Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 is duplicated) in the Commission’s proposal in all language versions except for the Greek one)) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amendment 70 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 16 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point c | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 71 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 16 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 72 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 16 a (new) Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 16 – paragraph 1 – introductory part | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2009:300:0088:0105:EN:PDF) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amendment 73 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 17 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 17 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 74 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 17 a (new) Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 17 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 75 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 21 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 28 – paragraph 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amendment 76 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 21 Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 Article 28 – paragraph 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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- [1] OJ C 262, 25.7.2018, p. 47
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Busses and coaches are one of the most accessible and most important modes of transport in the EU. They connect rural and urban areas of the Member States, often being the only means of public transportation available in certain regions. It is therefore vital that passengers receive the best service possible. Fair and healthy competition is the best way to achieve that.
Your Rapporteur welcomes the Commission’s proposal for amending the relevant regulation which seeks to open the business for non-resident carriers that are currently prevented from entering a national market to offer inter-urban coach services. As such, a carrier from a country A should be able to freely offer national services from point X to point Y in a country B. Discrimination on grounds of nationality or place of establishment cannot be permitted in the single market.
With the below amendments, Your Rapporteur has kept the spirit of the proposal — further liberalisation of the bus and coach markets — in place. At the same time, Your Rapporteur takes into account the fact that the situation in the bus market varies from one country to another and has also been careful not to undermine the well-functioning systems of certain Member States.
Protection of public service contracts and urban areas
Public service contracts (PSCs) serve a specific and an invaluable purpose. Proper protection of such contracts is necessary to ensure that opening up of the bus and coach market does not result in fewer services for the relevant regions and just cherry picking of the profitable routes by the new entrants in the market. For that reason Your Rapporteur has introduced a new clause whereby authorisation for a new service can effectively be denied even over the Commission’s proposed 100 km ceiling if the relevant service undermines an existing PSC that has been tendered in a transparent way without possibility of extension, bundles together profitable and unprofitable routes and receives no significant public subsidies that risk undermining the level playing field.
Moreover, authorisation for an existing service can even be suspended or withdrawn if a regulatory body establishes on the basis of an objective economic analysis that the service has compromised the economic equilibrium of an existing public service contract. Your Rapporteur is hopeful that these measures are sufficient and proportionate to make sure that PSCs are adequately protected while the market is opened for competition.
To further alleviate the concerns, Your Rapporteur has introduced an additional provision whereby Member States may limit the right of access to a national regular service if, among other things, it comes into contact with an urban or suburban centre or if the proposed service is performing the same public passenger transport service on a particular route or network where a competent authority has granted a public service operator an exclusive right in return for the discharge of public service obligations within the framework of a PSC.
Ensuring fair competition and guarding against the abuse of market power
In addition to protecting the PSCs, Your Rapporteur seeks to prevent situations whereby opening up of the relevant market leads to other unwanted outcomes. The proposed regulatory body should ensure there is a level playing field and fair competition amongst the carriers. That includes prevention of the abuse of significant market power or monopoly position, including through sub-contracting, or establishment of such market conditions. Moreover, authorising authorities would be permitted to reject an application if the regulatory authority establishes that the applicant seeking to enter the market is planning to offer services below their normal value for an extended period of time, thus undermining fair competition.
Establishment requirement and the possibility for a more liberal regime
To prevent the abuse of the spirit of the proposal and to accommodate the more stringent requirements of some Member States, Your Rapporteur has also introduced a possibility for Member States to require the establishment of the carrier in the host Member State after authorisation for a national regular service has been granted.
At the same time, Your Rapporteur has clarified that those Member States that already have a more liberal regime in place are allowed to keep it. Equally, Member States that want to open up the market beyond the requirements set out in this proposal, shall be permitted to do so.
Ensuring a level playing field
With other minor, yet some very necessary amendments Your Rapporteur has strived to further improve and clarify the spirit of the proposal. For instance, to ensure that private ownership is protected, Member States may exclude terminals that are owned and used solely by the terminal operator for its own road passenger transport services.
Your Rapporteur is therefore confident that the amended proposal has addressed the concerns not only of those seeking more protection, especially for the PSCs, but also those who are seeking a more liberal approach. The amended proposal strives to find the right balance between the interests of the passengers, transport companies as well as local, regional and national authorities. Your Rapporteur is optimistic that this proposal helps to move closer towards a truly single and fair bus and coach market in the European Union.
PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE
Title |
Common rules for access to the international market for coach and bus services |
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References |
COM(2017)0647 – C8-0396/2017 – 2017/0288(COD) |
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Date submitted to Parliament |
8.11.2017 |
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Committee responsible Date announced in plenary |
TRAN 29.11.2017 |
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Committees asked for opinions Date announced in plenary |
EMPL 29.11.2017 |
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Not delivering opinions Date of decision |
EMPL 7.12.2017 |
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Rapporteurs Date appointed |
Roberts Zīle 16.1.2018 |
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Discussed in committee |
1.2.2018 |
10.7.2018 |
5.11.2018 |
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Date adopted |
22.1.2019 |
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Result of final vote |
+: –: 0: |
26 14 1 |
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Members present for the final vote |
Daniela Aiuto, Lucy Anderson, Inés Ayala Sender, Georges Bach, Izaskun Bilbao Barandica, Deirdre Clune, Michael Cramer, Luis de Grandes Pascual, Andor Deli, Isabella De Monte, Ismail Ertug, Jacqueline Foster, Dieter-Lebrecht Koch, Innocenzo Leontini, Bogusław Liberadzki, Peter Lundgren, Elżbieta Katarzyna Łukacijewska, Marian-Jean Marinescu, Georg Mayer, Gesine Meissner, Gabriele Preuß, Christine Revault d’Allonnes Bonnefoy, Dominique Riquet, Massimiliano Salini, Claudia Țapardel, Keith Taylor, Pavel Telička, Marita Ulvskog, Wim van de Camp, Marie-Pierre Vieu, Janusz Zemke, Roberts Zīle, Kosma Złotowski |
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Substitutes present for the final vote |
Jakop Dalunde, Markus Ferber, Maria Grapini, Karoline Graswander-Hainz, Peter Kouroumbashev, João Pimenta Lopes |
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Substitutes under Rule 200(2) present for the final vote |
Christelle Lechevalier, Francisco José Millán Mon |
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Date tabled |
28.1.2019 |
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FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL IN COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE
26 |
+ |
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ALDE |
Izaskun Bilbao Barandica, Gesine Meissner, Dominique Riquet, Pavel Telička |
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ECR |
Jacqueline Foster, Innocenzo Leontini, Peter Lundgren, Roberts Zīle, Kosma Złotowski |
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PPE |
Georges Bach, Wim van de Camp, Deirdre Clune, Andor Deli, Markus Ferber, Luis de Grandes Pascual, Dieter-Lebrecht Koch, Elżbieta Katarzyna Łukacijewska, Marian-Jean Marinescu, Francisco José Millán Mon, Massimiliano Salini |
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S&D |
Inés Ayala Sender, Maria Grapini, Peter Kouroumbashev, Bogusław Liberadzki, Claudia Țapardel, Janusz Zemke |
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14 |
- |
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EFDD |
Daniela Aiuto |
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ENF |
Christelle Lechevalier, Georg Mayer |
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GUE/NGL |
João Pimenta Lopes, Marie-Pierre Vieu |
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S&D |
Lucy Anderson, Isabella De Monte, Ismail Ertug, Karoline Graswander-Hainz, Gabriele Preuß, Marita Ulvskog |
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VERTS/ALE |
Michael Cramer, Jakop Dalunde, Keith Taylor |
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1 |
0 |
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S&D |
Christine Revault d'Allonnes Bonnefoy |
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Key to symbols:
+ : in favour
- : against
0 : abstention