The proposed recast of the first railway package encompasses the adequate financing of and charging for rail infrastructures, the conditions of competition on the railway market, and the organisational reforms needed to ensure appropriate supervision of the market.
Currently, the European forums, the Parliament, the EU Council and the Commission are negotiating because different aspects in the recast strategy such as the set up of Regulatory Bodies, the establishment of a European Regulatory Body or the access to auxiliary railway services need additional clarifications. The second reading vote within TRAN Committee is expected on May 31, 2012, while the final vote in the plenum of the European Parliament is envisaged for July 2012.
For all member states it is very important to ensure the adequate, transparent and sustainable funding of the infrastructure and, thanks to better predictability of the infrastructure development and access conditions, facilitating investments by railway undertakings, together with a more appropriate level and structure of infrastructure charging, improving the competitiveness of rail operators compared to other transport modes and contributing to the internalisation of environmental costs constitute the first objective of the proposed recast.
Also, the recast of the 4th Railway Package seeks to avoid distortions of competition due to the use of State funds for commercial activities, preventing commercially sensitive information from being collected by incumbents and used against their potential competitors, eliminating conflicts of interest in the management of rail-related services and increasing their availability for new entrants as well as increasing market transparency to ensure effective competition. Regarding regulatory oversight, the proposed recast intends to ensure that regulatory bodies are in a position to carry out their duties effectively, thanks to reinforced independence, extended competencies, and additional means at their disposal.
The new provisions included in the recast clarify the necessary separation in railway undertaking accounts to ensure appropriate transparency. They make it compulsory to have separate accounts for activities that enjoy a legal monopoly in contrast to activities that are subject to competition. This measure is a safeguard against State funds devoted to unprofitable activities being shifted to subsidise commercial activities and is thereby necessary for avoiding distortion of competition.
Moreover, under the new provisions included in the recast of the 4th Railway Package, member states will be obliged to publish medium to long-term railway sector development strategies that make it possible to meet future mobility needs and are based on sound and sustainable financing of the railway system. It will stimulate long lifecycle investments on which the rail industry relies. Long-term commitments are necessary for attracting new actors to the market and for developing new services.
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