Press Release: Rail transport: Commission refers Germany to the Court of Justice of the EU for failing to fulfil its duty of sincere cooperation

On 16 June 2016, the European Commission decided to refer Germany to the Court of Justice of the EU owing to the conduct adopted by the German authorities at the 25th session of the Revision Committee of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF) held in Bern, Switzerland, on 25-26 June 2014.

Germany voted against two of the proposed amendments to the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF), contrary to the European Union's position as established by way of Council Decision 2014/699/EU, and it openly distanced itself from the vote that had been cast in accordance with that decision. In one of the two cases, where that decision provided for the exercise of the voting right by the Union itself and where the Union had voted accordingly, Germany openly contested this exercise of the voting right by the Union.

• Primary Source

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: MEMO/16/2097, 16.06.16: June infringements' package: key decisions http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-16-2097_en.htm

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