WRITTEN QUESTION P-1771/00 by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Rail services in Ireland.
Date: 2000-05-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Ireland, Leinster, common transport policy, competence of the Member States, rail network, region-EU relationship

6.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 72 E/113

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(11 July 2000)

As already mentioned in previous answers to written questions from Parliament (1), no substantive progress
is being made at the level of the Council on the Commission(cid:146)s proposal for a directive on precious
metals (2). In the light of further analysis of the ruling of the Court of justice in the Houtwipper case (3), it
seems excluded to impose, on the basis of Article 28 (ex Article 30) of the EC Treaty, a system of mutual
recognition of national conformity assessment procedures based on the manufacturer(cid:146)s declaration and on
hall marking. Given the continued stalemate concerning this issue, the Commission intends to verify with
Member States the scope for a breakthrough in harmonization of national law.

(1) E-3158/98 of Mrs Ferrer (OJ C 207, 21.7.1999), E-3139/98 of Mrs Miranda de Lage (OJ C 142, 21.5.1999) and

E-3029/98 of Mr Arias Caæete (OJ C 135, 14.5.1999).

(2) OJ C 209, 29.7.1994.
(3)

Judgement of 15.9.1994 in Case C-293/93.

(2001/C 72 E/142)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1771/00

by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 May 2000)

Subject: Rail services in Ireland

Bearing in mind the EU(cid:146)s responsibility in developing a common transport policy incorporating rail and
road and other modes of transport, what are the Commission(cid:146)s powers in ensuring that Member States
invest sufficiently in rail services, and what are its views on Iarnrod Eireann(cid:146)s decision not to reopen
Monasterevin railway station in Co. Kildare, Ireland, despite the fact that a demand for one exists amongst
car commuters driving to Dublin on a daily basis?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(3 July 2000)

for Trans-European networks and through the structural

Through the dedicated budget
the
Commission is able to co-finance studies and investments in rail infrastructure for projects defined in the
guidelines for the development of the Trans-European transport network (TEN-T). In Ireland, the main
railway line between Dublin and Portarlington (Galway/Limerich/Cork/Tralee)
is defined as part of the
outline map of the TEN rail network. In principle upgrading and construction projects on this route could
be eligible for Community financial support, subject to meeting the criteria and priorities established in the
TEN guidelines.

funds,

The choice of investment priorities, whether or not Community financial assistance is requested, is the
responsibility of the national authorities alone.

In general terms, the Commission pursues the policy objective of promoting rail to become an efficient
transport mode and to tackle current transport related problems such as congestion and environmental
externalities. In order to implement these objectives the Commission has made proposals to adapt the
regulatory framework appropriately, for instance in the area of market opening and infrastructure charging
principles. As to the question of reopening Monasterevin railway station the Commission takes the view
that the investment decisions relating to rail commuter infrastructure should be left to the appropriate
authorities at the local or regional level.