CER supports the TRAN Committee's concept to reinforce competition in the rail sector

On 25 January, the European Parliament's Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) held its first exchange of views on the European Commission proposal to recast the first railway package. The Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) welcomes the general orientation taken by Members of the European Parliament to support the development of competition in the rail market through various measures.

CER strongly supports the general line proposed by MEP Debora Serracchiani (S&D, Italy), rapporteur on this dossier, whereby she wishes to focus the European Parliament's work on measures aiming at reinforcing legal and financial rules. These rules will support the development of competition on the market as well as they will
include the enhancement of strong and efficient regulatory bodies throughout the EU, effectively able to enforce EU legislation. Such rules will also focus on reinforcing the financial architecture. This means that infrastructure managers will be given more certainty for their financial planning through the introduction of multi-annual contracts as well as clearer legal rules for charging. In addition, the non-discriminatory access to rail related services will be ensured. In parallel, the TRAN Committee decided to launch a study aiming to analyze the state of play of competition on the European rail market, the role regulators play in this regard, as well as the influence of institutional structures.

Johannes Ludewig, CER Executive Director said, "CER is looking forward to working together with the European Parliament and the Council to reinforce and streamline EU legislation to enhance competition in the rail market. At the same time, we are positive that future legislation will put this environmentally-friendly mode of
transport on a level playing field with other modes of transport."