Implementation of the First Railway Package Directives (2001/12/EC, 2001/13/EC and 2001/14/EC)
2.3.2010
ORAL QUESTION WITH DEBATE O-0030/10
pursuant to Rule 115 of the Rules of Procedure
by Brian Simpson, on behalf of the Committee on Transport and Tourism
to the Commission
The three ‘First Railway Package’ Directives (2001/12/EC[1], 2001/13/EC[2] and 2001/14/EC[3]) were adopted in 2001, with a deadline of March 2003 for their transposition. In its 2006 report the Commission recognised that Member States had formally transposed the three directives; however, in October 2009 it sent reasoned opinions to 21 Member States regarding their failure to implement the directives properly. In advance of the revision of the first railway package in 2010, the TRAN Committee wishes to express its deep concerns with regard to those Member States which do not fully comply with these directives and has the following questions:
– Can the Commission provide concrete and specific information on which aspect of the directives each Member State has failed to implement?
– Can the Commission explain why Member States have not correctly implemented these directives and are Member States still preventing fair competition in the railway market? How does the Commission think that the recast will facilitate the implementation of the first railway package?
– Can the Commission provide statistics on the differences in access and infrastructure charges in these Member States and give more precise information about the lack of independence of infrastructure managers and the measures that Member States have failed to take in relation to this?
– What actions should the 21 Member States have taken to provide sufficient powers and resources to regulatory bodies?
– Can the Commission explain why it took five years before formal notices were sent to the Member States and does it believe that the full implementation of the first railway package is a precondition to proceeding with further market openings?
– What action will the Commission take against Member States that have introduced national measures which contradict the first railway package?
– What is the state of play regarding interoperability of cross-border technologies? Can the Commission advise Parliament of the exact proportion of the EU rail network which is compatible with ERTMS standards?
Tabled: 02.03.2010
Forwarded: 04.03.2010
Deadline for reply: 11.03.2010