COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/649

of 7 May 2020

on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union during the 56th session of the Committee of Experts for the Carriage of Dangerous Goods of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail as regards certain amendments to Appendix C to the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 91 in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) The Union acceded to the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail of 9 May 1980 as amended by the Vilnius Protocol of 3 June 1999 (‘COTIF’) by means of Council Decision 2013/103/EU (1).

(2) All Member States, with the exception of Cyprus and Malta, are Parties to COTIF.

(3) Article 6 COTIF states that international rail traffic and admission of railway material in international traffic are to be governed by rules listed in that Article, in particular the Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID), which form Appendix C to COTIF.

(4) Directive 2008/68/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (2) lays down requirements for the transport of dangerous goods by road, by rail or by inland waterway within or between Member States on the basis of the RID.

(5) Pursuant to letter (d) of Article 13 § 1 and Article 33 § 5 COTIF, the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF) Committee of Experts for the Carriage of Dangerous Goods (‘RID Expert Committee’) can amend the Annex to the RID.

(6) The RID Expert Committee, during its 56th session on 27 May 2020, is to adopt amendments to adapt the Annex to the RID to scientific and technical progress.

(7) The envisaged amendments concern technical standards and aim at ensuring safe and efficient transport of dangerous goods while taking into account scientific and technical progress in the sector and the development of new substances and articles that could pose a danger while being transported.

(8) The envisaged amendments are considered to be appropriate for the safe transport of dangerous goods in a cost-effective manner and can therefore be supported.

(9) It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf in the RID Expert Committee, as the amendments to the RID will be binding on the Union,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 The position to be taken on the Union’s behalf during the 56th session of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail Committee of Experts for the Carriage of Dangerous Goods in the framework of the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail of 9 May 1980, as amended by the Vilnius Protocol of 3 June 1999, shall be as set out in the table of amendments in document ST 7049/20 (3). Minor changes to the documents referred to in that table of amendments may be agreed to by the representatives of the Union in the RID Expert Committee without a further decision of the Council.

Article 2 The decisions of the RID Expert Committee, once adopted, shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union, indicating the date of their entry into force.

Article 3 This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Brussels, 7 May 2020. For the Council The President G. GRLIĆ RADMAN

(1) Council Decision 2013/103/EU of 16 June 2011 on the signing and conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union and the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail on the Accession of the European Union to the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF) of 9 May 1980, as amended by the Vilnius Protocol of 3 June 1999 (OJ L 51, 23.2.2013, p. 1).

(2) Directive 2008/68/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 September 2008 on the inland transport of dangerous goods (OJ L 260, 30.9.2008, p. 13).

(3) The document ST 7049/20 can be found at http://register.consilium.europa.eu