Commission slams member states for watering down rail rules

The head of the European Commission's DG Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE), Henrik Hololei, outlined some criticism in March 2016 to the draft law in preparation to liberalise the European Union's rail sector.

Mr Hololei argued that the initial proposal by the Commission had been butchered as a result of the negotiations between the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, calling it a far less ambitious plan. The draft law had been proposed in 2013 and since then it was caught in firing line of member states and big rail companies that lobbied to water down the rules.

Negotiations were expected to be finalised during Spring 2016.

ESO: Background information: The fourth railway package: Another step towards a Single European Railway Area http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-fourth-railway-package-another-step-towards-a-single-european-railway-area/

ESO: Background information: Railway market opening and governance: Council agrees its position http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-railway-market-opening-and-governance-council-agrees-its-position/

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