Joint debate on the Railway Package, during the EP plenary session (27-28 April 2016) in Brussels. Statements by Roberts ZILE (ECR, LV), Dominique BILDE (ENF, FR), Michael CRAMER (Greens/EFA, DE), Violeta BULC, Member of the EC in charge of Transport, Markus PIEPER (EPP, DE), Ismail ERTUG (S&amp;D, DE), Kosma ZLOTOWSKI (ECR, PL), Karima DELLI (Greens/EFA, FR), and Merja KYLL&Ouml;NEN (GUE/NGL, FI).

Brussels

plenary session

BULC, Violeta (SI, EC)

joint debate

ZĪLE, Roberts (ECR, LV)

DELLI, Karima (Greens/EFA, FR)

railway package (T)

ERTUG, Ismail (S&D, DE)

CRAMER, Michael (Greens/EFA, DE)

KYLLÖNEN, Merja (GUE/NGL, FI)

PIEPER, Markus (EPP, DE)

BILDE, Dominique (ID, FR)

Railway Package: extracts from the joint debate

SOUNDBITE (Latvian), Roberts Z&#298;LE (ECR, LV), Rapporteur, The 4th railway package was presented by the Commission already 3 years ago, in 2013. The Purpose of it is still very topical, we want to eliminate the remaining barriers for the creation of a single European Railway Space, and to stimulate competition in domestic passenger freight, creating a single market.

SOUNDBITE (Latvian), Roberts ZĪLE (ECR, LV), Rapporteur, So railway undertakings will no longer need to apply for association separately in every country but they will be able to use this agency with its respective legal authorisation. 

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Dominique BILDE (ENF, FR), Rapporteur, I was pleased and learnt a great deal from a sector which is playing a crucially important role in the progressive decarbonisation of transport, and the reduction of logistical costs for European companies, and and improving, diversifying and making cheaper the possibilities for European citizens when they want to travel. And we want to built a Single Railway Area and an integrated system for mobility on a European level.

SOUNDBITE (German), Michael CRAMER (Greens/EFA, DE), Rapporteur, It is high time that we implemented this technical pillar, because there are now 11,000 different provisions for railways in the EU. We want to harmonise these and reduce this number drastically.

SOUNDBITE (English), Violeta BULC, Member of the EC in charge of Transport, The new role of the European Railway Agency, as the one-stop shop for issuing vehicle authorisation and safety certificates will be extremely beneficial for European Railway operators and manufacturers.

SOUNDBITE (English), Violeta BULC, Member of the EC in charge of Transport, These different benefits should lead to a saving for the rail sector of 500 million euros by 2025.

SOUNDBITE (German), Markus PIEPER (EPP, DE), My question is, why are these good things such a long time coming? There are many things here that are not political by any stretch of imagination, a certification of rolling and fixed stock, that is of course important for the customers and the industry, it is difficult to to understand why there is all the delays until everyone signs up tp the agreement.

SOUNDBITE (German), Ismail ERTUG (S&amp;D, DE), At the end of the day we should have better direct rail links for the people of Europe and with the ERA (European Railway Agency) we will have less red tape, less administrative obstacles, better safety because there will be a uniform safety certification system on international level in Europe, and I would like to thank everybody who have made their contribution to this achievement.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Kosma ZLOTOWSKI (ECR, PL), The railway package is not fully satisfactory to all those involved. From the viewpoint of Poland, the transition period should be much longer. We basically need more time to implement the investments. Differences in the level of advancement in the level of infrastructure in the Member States are considerable, and modernisation of railway lines take time.

SOUNDBITE (French), Karima DELLI (Greens/EFA, FR), President, this is an important way-station for railways, one of harmonisation and simplification. We are harmonising rules and safety standards, the rail sector was in dire need thereof. This will avoid absurd situations such as that of Thalys (international high-speed train operator), which needs 9 controls systems to cross 4 countries.

SOUNDBITE (Finnish), Merja KYLL&#214;NEN (GUE/NGL, FI), I have to express my concern about Member States dragging their feet in implementing commonly adopted legislation, we have reached an outcome on the 4th Railway package, yet at the same time even the 1st Railway package is still waiting to be implemeted in many Member States.