Mr President, Commissioner, I recently visited the newly constructed Öresund Bridge which links Sweden and Denmark and which is, of course, a part of the European transport network. It means that a fixed link is being created between Scandinavia and the continent. The bridge will make it considerably easier to convey people and goods from Sweden and Finland to the rest of Europe. However, we have a problem, at present, with different voltage systems. In fact, the power has to be taken away from a portion of the track so that the trains are able to alternate between the different voltage systems in Sweden and Denmark. We have different gauges in Sweden and Finland. The only railway linking the two countries is that between Haparanda and Torneå. Gauge switches are now being tested there to make it easier to cross the border. However, there are also some extremely good examples of other systems. The ore trains which travel from northern Sweden to northern Norway have just the one driver to take the train across the border. This works well because the countries concerned have cooperated with the employers and employees. Within the EU, we now have fifteen different and separate railway systems which are often incompatible with one another. This means that, within the railways sector, we have neither free movement nor a common market. If we are serious about creating an international, competitive railway, we must also create a common railways structure within Europe. Coordination of the railway systems is especially important for those countries and regions which are not situated in the centre of Europe. In order to be able to travel right through the EU, Swedish trains, for example, must be able to pass through several countries and, thus, several national railway systems. At present, this involves an obvious competitive disadvantage and means that the centrally situated countries within the EU should be urged to coordinate their various systems. For the same reason, it is also important for those countries bordering the EU to be able to be involved in the work on harmonisation so that there are no restrictions upon transport to and from third countries. If compatibility is to be achieved, the specifications of a range of technical components need to be brought into line with one another. What, however, is at least as important in terms of this change is that coordination should also be achieved within the operational and administrative systems, that staff should be duly trained and that there should be agreements in place to enable drivers to take trains across the national borders. Road traffic in Europe is increasing each year. It creates problems in the form of environmental damage, noise, overcrowding and accidents. In order to be able to cope with this trend, methods of transport must become cleaner, quieter, safer and more efficient. Railways are the means of transport which now best meets these requirements. Rail transport must therefore become more attractive and competitive. In order to reach that point, however, the railways must be able to compete on the same conditions as other forms of transport. The Savary report is therefore very important and one step along the road. It is now just a question of all the Member States turning it into a reality.

Political group: PSE