An Administrative Arrangement signed between the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) and the Ministry of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine marks a significant next step towards technical harmonisation between the railway systems of the European Union and Ukraine.
The positive relations established between the Ukrainian Ministry and ERA, which had even been established long before 2022, bear another promising fruit as the Ukrainian authorities reaffirm a clear commitment to implementing the EU regulatory framework for railways in Ukraine.
Part of the arrangement is that ERA will provide further expertise and technical support to the Ministry for Ukraine to become part of the Single European Railway Area. Both sides commit to a structured exchange on harmonising standards and regulation regarding railway safety, railway interoperability, train drivers’ legislation, and other areas falling within the scope of ERA. The arrangement stipulates the establishment of a steering committee that sets priorities and rolling plans in support of the overall objectives.
“The development of the Ukrainian railway is one of the prerequisites for full-fledged transport integration into the European Union. We have several challenges in this regard, but with the support of ERA, we will be able to work together to adapt the Ukrainian railway to European standards, both physically and in terms of regulations. The agreement will be another step towards successful cooperation,” said Serhiy Derkach, Deputy Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine.
“ERA is proud to continue the good collaboration with the Ukrainian authorities, and taking it to the next level. In the past we already provided considerable support in our remits on strategic topics of developing vital transport links between Ukraine and EU in times of crisis – reinforcement of the Solidarity Lanes, transposing EU legislation in Ukraine, technical harmonisation questions of reconstruction and TEN-T projects, and other. The wartime efforts of the Ukrainian railway sector are nothing but heroic, and an inspiration to us all here in the European Union. By the way: we have a lot to learn from our Ukrainian friends when it comes to modal split of freight, as they are putting more than 50% of their overall transport volume on rail,” stated Josef Doppelbauer, Executive Director of the European Union Agency for Railways.
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