WRITTEN QUESTION E-1856/02 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Liberalisation of the railways, cross-border fares and the balance between conventional and high-speed rail transport.
Date: 2002-06-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: charges for use of infrastructure, consumer movement, consumer protection, high-speed transport, liberalisation of the market, provision of services, rail network, rail transport, trans-European network, transport policy

C 92 E/100

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

17.4.2003

(2003/C 92 E/104)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1856/02

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(28 June 2002)

Subject: Liberalisation of the railways, cross-border fares and the balance between conventional and high-

speed rail transport

Fifteen European associations which champion the interests of public transport users met in Brussels
during the weekend of 18/19 May. In the liberalised market, they want to see users’ interests safeguarded
and service provision take precedence over economic interests. They agree that conventional rail transport
must continue to exist alongside high-speed rail. Whether such services are provided by the state or by the
private sector is not important to them, although they are calling for the state to continue to be
responsible for infrastructure. They noted that short-distance cross-border rail
links in Europe are still
poor. Anyone travelling by train between Kortrijk and Lille, for instance, will find it very expensive simply
because they cross a border.

Is the Commission taking any specific measures to ensure that conventional rail transport continues to
exist in Europe alongside high-speed rail? If so, what are they? If not, why not?

What are its policy visions as regards service provision and infrastructure?

Does the Commission agree that fares for short-distance cross-border rail journeys are disproportionately
high?

If it does agree, has it taken steps to adjust such fares? If so, how have those steps been received by the
Member States? If not, does it intend to do so, or why will it not do so?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(16 September 2002)

Regulation of both domestic or international train services, is the responsibility of the Member States, as a
matter of subsidiarity. The Commission’s role is to formulate the right regulatory framework, consistent
with both the rules of competition and internal market principles. Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69 of the
Council (1), amended by Council Regulation 1893/91 (2), provides a framework for the competent
authorities within Member States to procure cross-border regional railway passenger services in the public
interest, if they so wish. However, the Commission has no powers to force Member States to do this.

In its proposal to review these Regulations (3), the Commission proposes stronger powers for authorities to
extend integration arrangements (including pricing and ticketing) across national borders (Article 4a(2)).
This provision was introduced by the Commission in response to the Parliament’s report on the initial
proposal, which highlighted cross-border travel and the needs of people living in border regions.

The Commission has announced in its White Paper on ‘European Transport Policy for 2010: time to
decide’ (4) its objective to maintain the modal share of rail transport in 2010 at the same level as in 1998.
This implies a significant increase of rail transport, both freight and passenger transport, as demand for
transport is expected to grow by 38 %. In order to achieve this objective, the Parliament and the Council
already adopted in February 2001 the directives of the Infrastructure package (5), which provide for a
complete opening of
in 2008. The Commission adopted a
Communication in January 2002 ‘Towards an integrated European Railway Area’ (6) as well as 5 legislative
proposals to speed up the opening of the markets for passenger and freight transport by rail.

the rail market

for freight

transport

Further to the announcements made in the White Paper and the Communication of January 2002, as well
as the results of a study (7) carried out at the request of the Commission to assess the actual and potential
in 2003 for a
market for international rail passengers, the Commission intends to table a proposal

17.4.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 92 E/101

Regulation on passengers’ rights and obligations in relation to the use of international train services. This
Regulation will address several issues, such as compensation in the event of delays or failure to meet
service obligations;
transparency of
information on fares and travel conditions for passengers as well as the out-of-court dispute settlement
mechanisms. The Commission also encourages railway undertakings to take measures to improve service
levels and to adopt and implement a quality charter for international rail services.

the development and publication of service quality indicators;

The Commission is aware of the significant differences, which exist in the tariffs for short, cross- border
train services, compared to the same distances carried out on a national network. These price differences
can be explained by the application of international tariffs by national railway undertakings for sections
between a border station and the border itself, where public service contracts do not apply. Good practices
of integrated, cross border services though exist in the Union. The Conpass study from the research
programme (8) is looking at cross-border public transport in order to further develop good practices.

(1) Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69 of the Council of 26 June 1969 on action by Member States concerning the
obligations inherent in the concept of a public service in transport by rail, road and inland waterway, OJ L 156,
28.6.1969.

(2) OJ L 169, 29.6.1991.
(3) Amended proposal for a Regulation on action by Member States concerning public service requirements and the
award of public service contracts in passenger transport by rail, road and inland waterway, COM(2002) 107 final,
OJ C 151 E, 25.6.2002.

(4) COM(2001) 370 final of 12.9.2001.
(5) Directive 2001/12/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2001 amending Council Directive
91/440/EEC on the development of the Community’s railways;Directive 2001/13/EC of the Parliament an of the
Council of 26 February 2001 amending Council Directive 95/18/EC on the licensing of railway undertak-
ings;Directive 2001/14/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2001 on the allocation of railway
infrastructure capacity and the levying of charges for the use of railway infrastructure and safety certification,
OJ L 75, 15.3.2001.

(6) COM(2002) 18 final and COM(2002) 21 to 25 final adopted on 23.1.2002.
(7) Developing (EU)
International Rail Passenger Transport: Assessment of

for
international rail passenger services, OGM, Brussels, February 2001, available from: http://europa.eu.int/comm/
transport/rail/index_en.html.

the actual and potential market

(8) http://www.conpass.org.

(2003/C 92 E/105)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1864/02

by Niall Andrews (UEN) to the Council

(28 June 2002)

Subject: Spanish Presidency and sub-Saharan Africa

As the Spanish Presidency is drawing to a close will the Council state to what extent its wish to impart
continuity and impetus to the European Union’s policy in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in seeking
settlement formulas for the major armed conflicts (Great Lakes, Western Africa and Horn of Africa) and for
the domestic problems faced by countries such as Angola and Zimbabwe, has been realised?

Reply

(19 December 2002)

Insofar as the question refers to the first half of 2002, the Council would inform the Honourable Member
of the following:

1. Concerning the Great Lakes region, the EU has welcomed the progress made at the meetings in the
Inter-Congolese Dialogue which closed in Sun City, South Africa on 19 April 2002 after having run
for 52 days. While regretting that not all resolutions discussed could be adopted, the EU considered