# IMMC.COM%282020%29179%20final.ENG.xhtml.3_EN_ACT_part1_v3.docx

european flagEUROPEAN COMMISSION

Brussels, 29.4.2020

COM(2020) 179 final

2020/0071(COD)

Proposal for a

DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

amending Directive (EU) 2016/797 and Directive (EU) 2016/798, as regards the extension of their transposition period

(Text with EEA relevance)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

1.CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL

•Reasons for and objectives of the proposal

The proposal is part of the emergency measures adopted by the Commission in reaction to the extraordinary situation caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Unusually, Directive (EU) 2016/797 and Directive (EU) 2016/798 of the technical pillar of the 4th Railway Package provided Member States with a choice of two transposition deadlines
  1
  – 16 June 2019, or, upon notification to the Commission and the European Union Agency for Railways, 16 June 2020. Only 8 MS have transposed both Directives in 2019 (BG, FI, FR, GR, IT, NL, RO, SI).

In the light of COVID-19 outbreak, most of the remaining 17 Member States have requested a delay to transposition, claiming they will be unable to complete the necessary legislation before 16 June 2020.

Given the extraordinary circumstances, it is entirely understandable that final transposition may be impossible before 16 June 2020. It is vital to provide legal clarity and certainty, in particular to the railway industry and undertakings that are the main beneficiaries of the Fourth Railway Package. The COVID-19 outbreak struck in the final stage of adoption of the national transposition measures. Member States should still be able to complete the process in an additional period of three months. Therefore, the Commission considers a short delay of three months to be reasonable.

A number of implementing acts and delegated acts have been adopted in accordance with Directive (EU) 2016/797 and Directive (EU) 2016/798. Given the dual transposition deadline, according transitional provisions and dates for entry into force have been introduced therein. The Commission will propose a set of amendments to the implementing acts to align them with the extension of the transposition deadlines following the adoption of the proposed Directive. For the relevant delegated acts
  2
  , the existing procedure set out in Article 6 of Directive (EU) 2016/798 would not allow an alignment with the extension of the transposition deadlines on time. Thus, a legal basis and simplified procedure for the further alignment is provided in the proposal. This will ensure a coherent legal framework and implementation of the technical pillar of the Fourth Railway Package.

This is not an initiative within the Regulatory Fitness Programme (REFIT).

•Consistency with existing policy provisions in the policy area

The proposals are consistent with the overall emergency measures the Commission is taking to mitigate and overcome negative effects of COVID-19 outbreak.

It is essential to adopt these measures in order to ensure the continuity of the transport of goods and persons.

•Consistency with other Union policies

•

Consistency with other Union policies

The effective functioning of the internal market in rail, the free flow of essential goods, passengers and personnel, related services depends on the economic performance of the railway undertakings, infrastructure managers and rail industry, as well as a well-functioning legal and administrative framework. The negative economic consequences of the current COVID-19 outbreak could endanger the financial health of railway undertakings and infrastructure managers and have serious negative effects on the transport system and the economy as a whole.

The effective functioning of the internal market in rail, the free flow of essential goods, passengers and personnel, related services depends on the economic performance of the railway undertakings, infrastructure managers and rail industry, as well as a well-functioning legal and administrative framework. The negative economic consequences of the current COVID-19 outbreak could endanger the financial health of railway undertakings and infrastructure managers and have serious negative effects on the transport system and the economy as a whole.

Commission developed a 

  ‘green lanes’

   concept to keep borders open for freight and reduce traffic delays. Guidance on passenger rights has been issued, and will be further updated to address further changes in the overall situation.

Commission developed a

‘green lanes’

concept to keep borders open for freight and reduce traffic delays. Guidance on passenger rights has been issued, and will be further updated to address further changes in the overall situation.

The amendment of the Directives aims to address the major current concerns of Member States, railway undertakings, infrastructure managers and rail industry, and is therefore of utmost importance.

The amendment of the Directives aims to address the major current concerns of Member States, railway undertakings, infrastructure managers and rail industry, and is therefore of utmost importance.

2.LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY

2.

LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY

•Legal basis

•

Legal basis

This initiative is based on Article 91(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

This initiative is based on Article 91(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

•Subsidiarity (for non-exclusive competence)

The objective of the proposal cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States as they are bound by the transposition arrangements set out in the Directives and cannot unilaterally amend them. This objective may be achieved only through an amendment of the Directives themselves by the co-legislator.

•Proportionality

The proposal is proportionate to the problems created by the crisis and does not go beyond what is necessary to achieve the objective of alleviating the impact of the current COVID-19 outbreak for the purposes of transposition of the Directives.

•Choice of the instrument

In order to achieve its objective, the legal instrument should be of the same form as the one to be amended. The main purpose of the proposal is to amend the transposition deadline as requested by Member States.

3.RESULTS OF EX-POST EVALUATIONS, STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS

•Ex-post evaluations/fitness checks of existing legislation

This is an urgent measure which is triggered by the sudden and unforeseeable outbreak and spread of the COVID-19 virus. For this reason, the measure is not relevant for the regulatory fitness programme and no ex-post evaluation has been carried out.

•Stakeholder consultations

Given the urgency of the matter formal stakeholder consultation could not be carried out. However, both Member States authorities and stakeholders have called upon the Commission to adopt a proposal for appropriate measures in the context of the Directives.

•Collection and use of expertise

As explained, the proper collection of expertise was not possible due to the urgency of the situation. The Commission’s emergency measures are taken on the basis of the scientific evidence on the development of epidemiological circumstances.

•Impact assessment

Given the urgency of the situation, an impact assessment could not be carried out.

•Regulatory fitness and simplification

Not applicable.

•Fundamental rights

•

Fundamental rights

No impacts on the fundamental rights.

4.BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS

4.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

5.OTHER ELEMENTS

5.

OTHER ELEMENTS

•Implementation plans and monitoring, evaluation and reporting arrangements

•

Implementation plans and monitoring, evaluation and reporting arrangements

To ensure proper implementation of the proposed measure, which also has a direct impact on the legal clarity to the rail sector, the Commission proposes to introduce a notification clause for Member States opting for the extension of transposition deadline until 16 September 2020.

•Explanatory documents (for directives)

•

Explanatory documents (for directives)

Not applicable.

2020/0071 (COD)

2020/0071 (COD)

Proposal for a

Proposal for a

DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

amending Directive (EU) 2016/797 and Directive (EU) 2016/798, as regards the extension of their transposition period

amending Directive (EU) 2016/797 and Directive (EU) 2016/798, as regards the extension of their transposition period

(Text with EEA relevance)

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 91(1) thereof,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 91(1) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,

After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee
  3
  ,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee

3

,

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions
  4
  ,

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions

4

,

Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure,

Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure,

Whereas:

Whereas:

(1)In accordance with Article 57(1) of Directive (EU) 2016/797 of the European Parliament and of the Council
  5
  and Article 33 (1) of Directive (EU) 2016/798 of the European Parliament and of the Council
  6
  , Member States should have brought their laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with the relevant provisions of the Directives by 16 June 2019. However, pursuant to Article 57(2) of Directive (EU) 2016/797 and Article 33(2) of Directive (EU) 2016/798, Member States had the possibility to extend the transposition period by one year.

(1)

In accordance with Article 57(1) of Directive (EU) 2016/797 of the European Parliament and of the Council

5

and Article 33 (1) of Directive (EU) 2016/798 of the European Parliament and of the Council

6

, Member States should have brought their laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with the relevant provisions of the Directives by 16 June 2019. However, pursuant to Article 57(2) of Directive (EU) 2016/797 and Article 33(2) of Directive (EU) 2016/798, Member States had the possibility to extend the transposition period by one year.

(2)Seventeen Member States have notified the Commission and the European Union Agency for Railways (the ‘Agency’) about the extension of the transposition deadline of Directives (EU) 2016/797 and (EU) 2016/798 to 16 June 2020.

(3)Due to the extraordinary and unforeseeable situation caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, some of those Member States face difficulties to complete the legislative works within the given transposition deadline and therefore risk a failure to comply with this deadline. Such a failure could create legal uncertainty for the rail industry, the national authorities and the Agency as to the legislation that applies to rail safety and interoperability. The inability of certain Member States to transpose the Directives as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak has detrimental consequences for the rail sector.

(4)It is essential to provide legal clarity and certainty to the rail industry by allowing, where relevant, Member States to continue to apply, as of 16 June 2020 and for a limited period, Directive 2004/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
  7
  and Directive 2008/57/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
  8
  .

(5)Since the COVID-19 outbreak struck in the final stage of adoption of the national transposition measures Member States should be allowed an additional period of three months to complete the transposition process.

(6)The transposition deadlines of Directives (EU) 2016/797 and (EU) 2016/798 should be extended by three months until 16 September 2020. The repeal dates of Directive 2004/49/EC and Directive 2008/57/EC, as set out in Article 58 of Directive (EU) 2016/797 and Article 34 of Directive (EU) 2016/798 respectively, should be adjusted accordingly.

(7)A number of delegated acts have been adopted on the basis of Directive (EU) 2016/798 reflecting previous transposition deadlines. These acts need to be aligned with the new transposition deadline in the current situation. A simplified procedure should be provided where imperative grounds of urgency require an amendment of delegated act.

(8)Directives (EU) 2016/797 and (EU) 2016/798 should be amended accordingly.

(9)In order to allow for the prompt application of the measures provided for in this Directive, this Directive should enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union,

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

Article 1

Directive (EU) 2016/797 is amended as follows:

(1)in Article 57, the following paragraph 2a is inserted:

"2a.   Member States, that have extended the transposition period in accordance with paragraph 2, may further extend it until [16 September 2020]. Their transposition measures shall apply from that date. Those Member States shall notify the Agency and the Commission thereof by one day following the entry into force of Directive (EU) 2020/... at the latest.";

(2)in the first paragraph of Article 58,

“16 June 2020” is replaced by “16 September 2020”.

Article 2

Directive (EU) 2016/798 is amended as follows:

(1)the following Article 6a is inserted:

“Article 6a

Alignment of CSMs with revised deadlines

The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 27(7) to align the application dates of delegated acts adopted under Article 6(6), with the transposition deadline set out in Article 33(2a).”

(2)in Article 27, the following paragraph 7 is added:

“7. By derogation from paragraphs 1 to 6, the power to adopt delegated acts under Article 6a is conferred on the Commission from [date of entry into force of Directive (EU) 2020/...] to [16 September 2020]. The procedure provided for in Article 27a shall apply. ”

(3)in Article 27, the following paragraph 8 is added:

“8. By derogation from paragraphs 2 to 6, and without prejudice of paragraph 7, where imperative grounds of urgency so require, the procedure provided for in Article 27a shall apply to delegated acts adopted pursuant to this Article.”

(4)the following Article 27a is inserted:

"Article 27a

Urgency procedure

1.Delegated acts adopted under this Article shall enter into force without delay and shall apply as long as no objection is expressed in accordance with paragraph 3.

2.As soon as the Commission adopts a delegated act pursuant to this Article, it shall notify it simultaneously to the European Parliament and to the Council and shall state the reasons for the use of the urgency procedure.

3.Either the European Parliament or the Council may object to a delegated act in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 27(6). In such a case, the Commission shall repeal the act immediately following the notification of the decision to object by the European Parliament or by the Council."

(5)in Article 33, the following paragraph 2a is inserted:

“2a.Member States, that have extended the transposition period in accordance with paragraph 2, may further extend it until [16 September 2020]. Their transposition measures shall apply from that date. Those Member States shall notify the Agency and the Commission thereof by one day following the entry into force of Directive (EU) 2020/... at the latest. ”

(6)in the first paragraph of Article 34,

“16 June 2020” is replaced by “16 September 2020”.

Article 3

This Directive shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Article 4

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels,

For the European Parliament
     
     
     For the Council

The President
     
     
     The President