Article 1 
1. The accounts of railway undertakings shall be normalised in accordance with the common rules set out in this Regulation. 2. Any financial compensation resulting from the normalisation of accounts laid down in paragraph 1 shall be effected from 1 January 1971 and in accordance with the common procedures set out in this Regulation.
Article 2 
1. Normalisation of the accounts of railway undertakings shall, within the meaning of this Regulation, consist in: (a) determination of the financial burdens borne or benefits enjoyed by railway undertakings, by reason of any provision laid down by law, regulation or administrative action, by comparison with their position if they operated under the same conditions as other transport undertakings; (b) payment of compensation in respect of the burdens or benefits disclosed by the determination under (a). 2. Financial burdens resulting from any provision laid down by law, regulation or administrative action which embodies the results of negotiations between the two sides of industry shall not be treated as financial burdens for the purposes of this Regulation. 3. Normalisation of accounts within the meaning of this Regulation shall not apply to public service obligations imposed by Member States and covered by Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69.
Article 3 
1. This Regulation shall apply to the following railway undertakings: — Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Belges (SNCB)/Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen (NMBS), — Danske Statsbaner (DSB), — Deutsche Bundesbahn (DB), — Deutsche Reichsbahn (DR), — Οργανισμός Σιδηροδρόμων Ελλάδος (ΟΣΕ), — Red Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Españoles (RENFE), — Société Νationale des Chemins de Fer Français (SNCF), — Iarnród Éireann, — Ente Ferrovie dello Stato (FS), — Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois (CFL), — Naamloze Vernootschap Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), — Österreichische Bundesbahnen (ÖBB), — Caminhos-de-Ferro Portugueses, EP (CP), — Valtionrautatiet/Statsjärnvägarna (VR), — Statens järnvägar (SJ), — British Rail (BR), — Northern Ireland Railways (NIR), — České dráhy (ČD) a.s.; Správa železniční dopravní cesty s.o., — AS Eesti Raudtee, — Edelaraudtee AS, — AS Eesti Raudtee, — Edelaraudtee AS, — Valsts akciju sabiedrība ‘Latvijas Dzelzceļš’ (LDZ), — Lietuvos geležinkeliai (LG), — Magyar Államvasutak Rt. (MÁV), — Győr-Sopron-Ebenfurti Vasút Rt. (GySEV), — PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A., — PKP Cargo S.A., — PKP InterCity sp. z o.o., — PKP Przewozy Regionalne sp. z o.o., — PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A., — PKP Cargo S.A., — PKP InterCity sp. z o.o., — PKP Przewozy Regionalne sp. z o.o., — Slovenske železnice (SŽ), — Železnice Slovenskej republiky (ŽSR), — Национална компания Железопътна инфраструктура (НК ЖИ), — Български държавни железници ЕАД (БДЖ ЕАД), — Национална компания Железопътна инфраструктура (НК ЖИ), — Български държавни железници ЕАД (БДЖ ЕАД), — Compania Națională de Căi Ferate C.F.R. — S.A. (CFR), — Societatea Națională de Transport Feroviar de Marfă C.F.R. Marfă — S.A. (CFR Marfa), — Societatea Națională de Transport Feroviar de Călători C.F.R. Călători — S.A. (CFR Călători), — Societatea de Administrare Active Feroviare S.A.A.F. — S.A. (SAAF). — Compania Națională de Căi Ferate C.F.R. — S.A. (CFR), — Societatea Națională de Transport Feroviar de Marfă C.F.R. Marfă — S.A. (CFR Marfa), — Societatea Națională de Transport Feroviar de Călători C.F.R. Călători — S.A. (CFR Călători), — Societatea de Administrare Active Feroviare S.A.A.F. — S.A. (SAAF). 2. The Commission shall, by 1 January 1973 at the latest, submit to the Council the measures it considers to be necessary for the purpose of extending the application of this Regulation to other undertakings effecting carriage by rail.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL The proposal for a Council Regulation is necessitated by the upcoming accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union. The Treaty concerning the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union[1] was signed by all Member States of the European Union and the Republic of Croatia at Brussels on 9 December 2011. Article 3 (3) of the Treaty of Accession provides that it shall enter into force on 1 July 2013 provided that all the instruments of ratification have been deposited before that date. Article 3(4) of the Treaty of Accession enables the institutions of the Union to adopt before accession measures referred to, inter alia, in Article 50 of the Act concerning the conditions of accession of the Republic of Croatia[2]. These measures shall enter into force only subject to and on the date of the entry into force of the Treaty of Accession. Article 50 of the Act of Accession provides that where acts of the institutions adopted prior to accession require adaptation by reason of accession, and the necessary adaptations have not been provided for in this Act or its Annexes, the Council or the Commission (if the original acts were adopted by the Commission) shall adopt the necessary acts. Point 2 of the Final Act[3] refers to the political agreement on a set of adaptations to acts adopted by the institutions which was reached between the Member States and Croatia in the context of the approval of the Treaty of Accession; the High Contracting Parties of the Treaty of Accession invited the Council and the Commission to adopt these adaptations before accession in accordance with Article 50 of the Act of Accession, completed and updated where necessary to take account of the evolution of the law of the Union. The present proposal regroups the technical adaptations to all Council regulations and decisions as well as to all European Parliament and Council regulations and decisions which require technical adaptation by reason of the accession of Croatia, into a single Council regulation. Alongside this proposal for a Council Regulation, the Commission transmits a series of separate proposals for several Council directives to the Council which cover technical adaptations to Council directives as well as to European Parliament and Council directives which also need technical adaptation by reason of the accession of Croatia. Each of these separate proposals for Council directives regroups the technical adaptations which correspond to different negotiation chapters. This structure is designed to facilitate the transposition of the directives by Member States into their respective legal orders, and is in line with the approach which was taken in view of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania[4]. It is foreseen that all the legal acts included in this package will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union at the same date. The present proposal and the other proposals included in this package will take into account technical adaptations to the acquis which were published in the Official Journal of the European Union until 1 September 2012. The reasons for this are to provide sufficient time for the legislative processes involved on the one hand, and for the fulfilment of the ensuing transposition and notification obligations by Member States as regards directives on the other hand. Adaptations which may be necessary to the acquis published in the Official Journal of the European Union after 1 September 2012 will be foreseen in the relevant acts themselves or done at a later stage through the appropriate procedure. In addition, the Commission intends to informally provide a list of such legislation to Member States in early July 2013.
Revised version (Article 3 ):
1. This Regulation shall apply to the following railway undertakings: — Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Belges (SNCB)/Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen (NMBS), — Danske Statsbaner (DSB), — Deutsche Bundesbahn (DB), — Deutsche Reichsbahn (DR), — Οργανισμός Σιδηροδρόμων Ελλάδος (ΟΣΕ), — Red Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Españoles (RENFE), — Société Νationale des Chemins de Fer Français (SNCF), — Iarnród Éireann, — Ente Ferrovie dello Stato (FS), — Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois (CFL), — Naamloze Vernootschap Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), — Österreichische Bundesbahnen (ÖBB), — Caminhos-de-Ferro Portugueses, EP (CP), — Valtionrautatiet/Statsjärnvägarna (VR), — Statens järnvägar (SJ), — British Rail (BR), — Northern Ireland Railways (NIR), — České dráhy (ČD) a.s.; Správa železniční dopravní cesty s.o., — AS Eesti Raudtee, — Edelaraudtee AS, — AS Eesti Raudtee, — Edelaraudtee AS, — Valsts akciju sabiedrība ‘Latvijas Dzelzceļš’ (LDZ), — Lietuvos geležinkeliai (LG), — Magyar Államvasutak Rt. (MÁV), — Győr-Sopron-Ebenfurti Vasút Rt. (GySEV), — PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A., — PKP Cargo S.A., — PKP InterCity sp. z o.o., — PKP Przewozy Regionalne sp. z o.o., — PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A., — PKP Cargo S.A., — PKP InterCity sp. z o.o., — PKP Przewozy Regionalne sp. z o.o., — Slovenske železnice (SŽ), — Železnice Slovenskej republiky (ŽSR), — Национална компания Железопътна инфраструктура (НК ЖИ), — Български държавни железници ЕАД (БДЖ ЕАД), — Национална компания Железопътна инфраструктура (НК ЖИ), — Български държавни железници ЕАД (БДЖ ЕАД), — Compania Națională de Căi Ferate C.F.R. — S.A. (CFR), — Societatea Națională de Transport Feroviar de Marfă C.F.R. Marfă — S.A. (CFR Marfa), — Societatea Națională de Transport Feroviar de Călători C.F.R. Călători — S.A. (CFR Călători), — Societatea de Administrare Active Feroviare S.A.A.F. — S.A. (SAAF), — Compania Națională de Căi Ferate C.F.R. — S.A. (CFR), — Societatea Națională de Transport Feroviar de Marfă C.F.R. Marfă — S.A. (CFR Marfa), — Societatea Națională de Transport Feroviar de Călători C.F.R. Călători — S.A. (CFR Călători), — Societatea de Administrare Active Feroviare S.A.A.F. — S.A. (SAAF), — HŽ Infrastruktura d.o.o., — HŽ Putnički prijevoz d.o.o., — HŽ Cargo d.o.o. — HŽ Infrastruktura d.o.o., — HŽ Putnički prijevoz d.o.o., — HŽ Cargo d.o.o. 2. The Commission shall, by 1 January 1973 at the latest, submit to the Council the measures it considers to be necessary for the purpose of extending the application of this Regulation to other undertakings effecting carriage by rail.
Article 4 
1. Normalisation of accounts within the meaning of this Regulation shall be applied to the following classes of financial burden or benefit: (a) payments which railway undertakings are obliged to make but which, for the rest of the economy, including other modes of transport, are borne by the State (Class 1); (b) expenditure of a social nature incurred by railway undertakings in respect of family allowances different from that which they would bear if they had to contribute on the same terms as other transport undertakings (Class II); (c) payments in respect of retirement and other pensions borne by railway undertakings on terms different from those applicable to other transport undertakings (Class III); (d) the bearing by railway undertakings of the costs of crossing facilities (Class IV). 2. The following classes of financial burden or benefit in existence at the time of entry into force of this Regulation shall be terminated by 1 January 1971 at the latest: (a) the obligation to recruit staff surplus to the requirements of the undertaking (Class V); (b) backdated increases in wages and salaries imposed by the Government of a Member State, except where such increases are made for the sole purpose of bringing the wages and salaries paid by railway undertakings into line with the wages and salaries paid elsewhere in the transport sector (Class VI); (c) delay imposed by the competent authorities with regard to renewals and maintenance (Class VII). 3. The following class of financial burden or benefit in existence at the time of the entry into force of this Regulation shall be abolished by 1 January 1973 at the latest: financial burdens in respect of reconstruction or replacement arising out of war damage which are borne by railway undertakings but which should have been assumed by the State (Class VIII); the capital and interest burden of loans granted under this head shall be the subject of normalisation of accounts within the meaning of this Regulation until liability ceases. 4. The following classes of financial burden or benefit in existence at the time of the entry into force of this Regulation may be the subject of normalisation of accounts within the meaning of this Regulation: (a) the obligation to retain staff surplus to the requirements of the undertaking (Class IX); (b) measures benefiting staff, in recognition of certain services rendered to their country, imposed on railway undertakings by the State on terms different from those applicable to other transport undertakings (Class X); (c) allowances payable to staff imposed on railway undertakings and not on other transport undertakings (Class XI); (d) expenditure of a social character incurred by railway undertakings, in respect in particular of medical treatment, different from that which they would bear if they had to contribute on the same basis as other transport undertakings (Class XII); (e) financial burdens devolving upon railway undertakings in consequence of their being required by the State to keep in operation works or other establishments in circumstances inconsistent with operation on a commercial basis (Class XIII); (f) conditions imposed in respect of the placing of public contracts for works and supplies (Class XIV). The following class of financial burden or benefit may also be the subject of normalisation of accounts within the meaning of this Regulation: capital and interest burdens borne as a result of lack of normalisation in the past (Class XV). A final settlement of the position as regards Classes IX to XV shall be adopted by the Council by not later than the time when measures are adopted for the implementation of Article 8 of the Council Decision of 13 May 1965 on the harmonisation of certain provisions affecting competition in transport by rail, road and inland waterway. In the meantime, Member States shall endeavour to remove the causes of those financial burdens or benefits.
Article 5 
1. Any financial burden upon, or benefit for, railway undertakings which shall or may be the subject of normalisation of accounts shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Annexes to this Regulation. The Annexes shall form an integral part of this Regulation. 2. Where, for any class to be normalised, the conditions applicable to railway undertakings have to be compared with those applicable elsewhere in the transport sector, the comparison shall be only with private undertakings.
Article 6 
1. The gross amount of compensation shall be determined for each class of normalisation by applying the principles of calculation specified in the Annex for the relevant class. The net amount shall be obtained by taking into account only once any item which appears more than once in the calculation of the gross amounts for the various classes. 2. Where the calculation made in accordance with the provisions laid down in the Annexes for each class of normalisation discloses a financial burden for the railway undertaking, the latter shall be entitled to an equivalent sum by way of compensation from the public authorities. Where such a calculation discloses a benefit for the railway undertaking, the equivalent sum by way of compensation shall be due from the railway undertaking to the public authorities.
Article 7 
1. Every year railway undertakings shall submit to the competent authorities applications for normalisation in accordance with the provisions of this Regulation. 2. Such applications shall consist of: (a) data relating to the following financial year, calculated on the basis of the provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in force at the time the application is made; and (b) the data needed for adjustment of the amounts paid provisionally in respect of the financial year for which final results are known. 3. Such application, which shall be made in good time to allow the public authorities to make the necessary provision in the budget, shall contain all relevant supporting information concerning in particular: (a) the financial burdens or benefits for each class of normalisation; (b) the method of calculation applied for each class under consideration; (c) the gross and net amounts referred to in Article 6 (1) for each class under consideration. The estimates referred to in paragraph 2 (a) shall be calculated on the basis of the figures for the last period for which final results are known, account being taken of any changes which may have occurred within each class of normalisation up to the time when the application was made.
Article 8 
1. The competent authorities of the Member States shall examine the data upon which the application by the railway undertaking concerned is based. 2. After giving the undertaking concerned an opportunity to submit its comments, the competent authorities of the Member States may: — adjust the amounts of the compensation and alter other items in the application, if the provisions of this Regulation have not been complied with; — include in the application other financial burdens or benefits resulting from any of the classes listed in Article 4. 3. The competent authorities shall determine, in accordance with the provisions laid down in this Regulation, the estimated amount of the compensation for the following financial year, and the final amount of the compensation for the last preceding financial year for which final results are known. Their decision shall include details of the calculation of such amounts. 4. The competent authorities shall notify the railway undertaking of their decision six months at the latest after receipt of the application. If the competent authorities fail to give a decision within that period, the undertaking's application shall be deemed to be provisionally accepted.
Article 9 
Member States shall pay the estimated amount of compensation determined pursuant to Article 8 in the course of the financial year for which the estimate was made. In the course of that financial year, Member States shall pay or collect the balance of the compensation due by reason of the difference between the final amount of the compensation for the last preceding financial year for which final results are available and the estimated amounts already paid.
Article 10 
1. The amount of the compensation paid in respect of each class of normalisation shall be shown in a table annexed to the annual accounts of the railway undertaking. That table shall show separately amounts of compensation received on an estimated basis, and amounts received or paid in settlement of the outstanding balance as provided in Article 9. The table shall also show, in respect of each public service obligation, the amounts of compensation granted under Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69. 2. The total amount of compensation received pursuant to the normalisation of accounts and of compensation received in respect of public service obligations shall, depending on the rules in force in the individual States, be entered either in the trading account or in the profit and loss account of the railway undertaking concerned.
Article 11 
Decisions of the competent authorities of the Member States taken in pursuance of the provisions of this Regulation shall state the reasons on which they are based and shall receive official publication.
Article 12 
Member States shall ensure that railway undertakings, in their capacity as railway undertakings, are given the opportunity to make representations concerning their interests, by appropriate means, with regard to decisions taken pursuant to this Regulation.
Article 13 
1. The Commission may request Member States to supply all relevant information concerning the application of this Regulation. Whenever it considers it necessary, the Commission shall consult with the Member States concerned. 2. Compensation paid pursuant to this Regulation shall be exempted from the preliminary information procedure laid down in Article 93 (3) of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community. Member States shall promptly forward to the Commission details of amounts actually paid as compensation in respect of each class of financial burden or benefit covered by this Regulation.
Article 14 
1. Member States shall, after consulting the Commission and in good time, adopt such laws, regulations or administrative provisions as may be necessary for the implementation of this Regulation. 2. Where a Member State so requests, or where the Commission considers it appropriate, the Commission shall consult with the Member States concerned upon the proposed terms of the measures referred to in paragraph 1. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.