On 19 April 2016 the Netherlands EU presidency reached an informal agreement with the European Parliament regarding the opening of the domestic rail passenger markets in the member states and the strengthening of the independence of rail infrastructure managers to ensure effective and non-discriminatory access to infrastructure. The agreement is provisional and subject to approval by the Council.
The negotiators reached agreement on all three proposals of the ‘market’ pillar of the 4th railway package: a revised regulation governing public service contracts, a revised directive on establishing a single European railway area and a regulation repealing the regulation on the normalisation of accounts of railway undertakings.
The new rules aim to improve the quality and efficiency of rail services in Europe. They should encourage investment and innovation as well as fair competition in the rail market. Together with the technical pillar of the 4th railway package, they are an important step towards the completion of the single European rail area.
“Thanks to the cooperation and the flexibility of all parties involved, we have reached an ambitious provisional agreement. When this agreement is endorsed by the member states, it will improve the quality and efficiency of railway services in Europe,” Dutch State Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Sharon Dijksma said.
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