COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2022/675

of 11 April 2022

on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union at the 57th 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) According to Article 6 of the COTIF, international rail traffic and admission of railway material in international traffic are to be governed by rules listed in that Article, in particular the ‘Regulation concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID)’ which form Appendix C to COTIF.

(3) 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, by referring to RID.

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

(5) The RID Expert Committee, during its 57th session on 24 May 2022, is to adopt amendments to adapt the Annex to the RID to scientific and technical progress.

(6) 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.

(7) The envisaged amendments aim at ensuring the 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 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 may be necessary to agree minor changes to the documents referred to in the Annex at technical level at the 14th session of the RID Committee of Experts’ standing working group on 23 May 2022, including on the basis of recommendations of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Joint Meeting of the RID Committee of Experts and the Working Party on the Transport of Dangerous Goods,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 The position to be taken on the Union’s behalf at the 57th session of the Committee of Experts for the Carriage of Dangerous Goods (‘RID Expert Committee’) of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail 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 Annex to this Decision. The representatives of the Union in the RID Expert Committee may agree to minor changes to the documents referred to in the Annex without further decision from 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 Luxembourg, 11 April 2022. For the Council The President J. BORRELL FONTELLES

(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).