Press Release: Rail transport: Commission takes Austria to Court for not ensuring financial transparency

The European Commission decided on the 26 November 2014 to take Austria to the Court of Justice for failing to comply with EU rules on financial transparency in the rail sector. Austria does not ensure that public funds paid as public service obligations dedicated to passenger transport services are correctly shown in relevant accounts. For this reason, it cannot be excluded that public funds are used to cross subsidise other transport services. This could distort competition, potentially giving an unfair competitive advantage to those receiving the public subsidies. Such a situation would be contrary to existing EU rules, which aim at establishing an efficient, non-distorted and competitive EU internal market for rail.