A4-0097/94

Proposal for a Council Directive on the interoperability of the European high- speed train network (COM(94)0107 - C4-0037/94 - 94/0112(SYN))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Recital 1a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas, with a view to making a People's Europe a reality, this Directive represents the first step towards the interoperability of the entire European high-speed train network;

(Amendment 13)

Recital 1b (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas, in view of the economic importance for the railway industry of the market which consists in the ordering, manufacturing and operation of high-speed trains, it would be appropriate to take into consideration all the systems which have been developed so far, i.e. the French TGV for the SNCF, the German ICE for the DB, the Italian ETR 500 for the FS and the Spanish Talgo, as well as the three other types of train which are in use, being built or on order and which derive from the French TGV, namely the Spanish AVE operated by the RENFE, the cross-Channel Eurostar being built for the SNCF, BR and the SNCB, and the PBKA, which has been ordered by the SNCF, the SNCB, the NS and the DB;

(Amendment 2)

Recital 3a (new)

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Whereas in April 1994 the Commission submitted a proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (COM(94)0106) which also includes network schemes for conventional train networks; whereas, therefore, once this Decision enters into force the Commission will also submit proposals for the interoperability of the conventional rail network, in particular with a view to removing obstacles to trans-frontier regional traffic;

(Amendment 3)

Recital 5

>Original text>

Whereas the operation in commercial service of high-speed trains requires that there is excellent coherence between the characteristics of the infrastructure and that of the rolling stock; whereas performance levels, service quality and cost depend upon that coherence and that, in particular, the interoperability of the European high speed train network is founded upon that coherence;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the operation in commercial service of high-speed trains requires that there is excellent coherence between the characteristics of the infrastructure and that of the rolling stock; whereas performance levels, service quality and cost depend upon that coherence and whereas, in particular, the interoperability of the European high-speed train network is founded upon that coherence; whereas, although the high-speed network is designed primarily for passengers, ways and means should gradually be found of enabling the network to carry rapid goods services;

(Amendment 4)

Recital 5a (new)

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Whereas users must also have easy access to the whole European high-speed train network; whereas, therefore, the interoperability of the ticketing, reservation and information systems of the European high-speed train network must also be guaranteed;

(Amendment 5)

Recital 25

>Original text>

Whereas interoperability within the European high-speed train network is Community-wide in scale; whereas the Member States are in no position, on an individual basis, to take the action needed in order to achieve that interoperability; whereas it is therefore necessary that this action be taken at Community level;

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Whereas interoperability within the European high-speed train network is not only Community-wide in scale but also has an extra-Community dimension; whereas the Member States are in no position, on an individual basis, to take the action needed in order to achieve that interoperability; whereas it is therefore necessary that this action be taken at Community level, and that it involve other European countries, in particular Switzerland and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe;

(Amendment 12)

Article 23a (new)

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Article 23a

Every two years the Commission shall report to the European Parliament and the Council on the progress made towards achieving interoperability of the European high-speed train network.

(Amendment 7)

Annex III(3.7.1), second paragraph

>Original text>

The operations and maintenance intervals, the training and qualification of maintenance staff and the quality assurance system set up in the maintenance centres of the operators concerned must guarantee a high level of safety.

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The operations and maintenance intervals, the training and qualification of drivers and maintenance staff on high-speed trains, based on an agreed training syllabus and identical set of tests and qualifications procedures, and the quality assurance system set up in the maintenance centres of the operators concerned must ensure safety.

(Amendment 8)

Annex III(3.7.3)

>Original text>

The alignment of the operating rules of the networks and the qualification of drivers, on-board staff and the management of traffic must guarantee operating efficiency on the European high speed train network.

>Text following EP vote>

The alignment of the operating rules of the networks and the training and qualification of drivers and on-board, maintenance and traffic management staff on high-speed trains, based on an agreed training syllabus and identical set of tests and qualifications procedures, must ensure operating efficiency on the European high-speed train network.

(Amendment 9)

Annex VIII(2)

>Original text>

2. The body and the staff responsible for inspection must carry out the checking operations with the greatest possible professional integrity and the greatest possible technical competence and must be free of any pressure and incentive, in particular of a financial type, which may affect their judgment or the results of their inspection, and in particular those generated by persons or groups of persons affected by the results of the checks.

>Text following EP vote>

2. The staff responsible for inspection must carry out the checking operations with the greatest possible professional integrity and the greatest possible technical competence and must be free of any pressure and incentive, in particular of a financial type, which may affect their judgment or the results of their inspection, and in particular those generated by persons or groups of persons affected by the results of the checks.

(Amendment 10)

Annex VIII(2a)(new)

>Text following EP vote>

2a. The Member States shall take the measures necessary to ensure that the bodies referred to in this Annex are legally independent entities in terms of management, administration and internal administrative, economic and accounting controls.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive on the interoperability of the European high-speed train network (COM(94)0107 - C4-0037/94 - 94/0112(SYN))

(Cooperation procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(94)0107 - 94/0112(SYN) ((OJ C 134, 17.5.1994, p. 6.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Articles 189c and 129d, third paragraph of the EC Treaty (C4-0037/94),

- having regard to Rule 58 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Transport and Tourism and the opinions of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy, the Committee on Research, Technological Development and Energy, the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection and the Committee on Budgets (A4-0097/94),

1. Approves the Commission proposal, subject to Parliament's amendments;

2. Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 189a(2) of the EC Treaty;

3. Calls on the Council to incorporate Parliament's amendments in the common position that it adopts in accordance with Article 189c(a) of the EC Treaty;

4. Instructs its President to forward this opinion to the Council and Commission.