Press Release: Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council, Brussels, 14 March 2014

Main results of the Council:

The Council agreed a general approach regarding a proposal aimed at defining the new tasks of the European Railway Agency (ERA) to reflect its stronger role in the future in safety certification and vehicle authorisation. The draft regulation is the third and final part of the fourth railway package's technical pillar, whose completion is expected to increase economies of scale for railway undertakings across the EU, reduce administrative costs and speed up procedures. It should also help to avoid any covert discrimination in the issuing of safety certificates and vehicle authorisations.

The Council adopted its position on a draft Council regulation intended to set up a public-private partnership called Shift2Rail joint undertaking, which will manage a research and innovation work programme to support the development of better rail services in Europe. Shift2Rail's goal is to double the capacity of the railway transport system, to reduce its life-cycle cost by 50% and to increase the reliability and punctuality of rail services by 50%.

The Council held a policy debate on a Commission Communication, "Together towards competitive and resource-efficient urban mobility". Ministers expressed their views based on questions formulated by the presidency.

Mr Michalis Chrisochoidis, the Greek Minister of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks, said: "Today the Council had a very productive discussion on a number of files. The excellent cooperation amongst the ministers resulted in important decisions for the railway sector, the positive results of which will be visible in the near future. We also had a fruitful exchange of views on urban mobility, in particular on added value measures at Union level that could improve the everyday lives of the European citizens. Finally I had the opportunity to inform my colleagues on the progress made on various files during the Greek Presidency. We continue our systematic work taking advantage of the progress already achieved".

The Council also adopted important items without discussion (A items), including:
– Directive regarding the European Investigation Order
– Directive on the freezing and confiscation of proceeds of crime
– Visa liberalisation for Moldova
– EU tobacco directive

European Commission: RAPID: MEMO/14/190: Transport Council – 14 March 2014 http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-14-190_en.pdf

ESO: Background information: Visa liberalisation for Moldova http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-visa-liberalisation-for-moldova/

ESO: Background information: Council adopts directive on the freezing and confiscation of proceeds of crime http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-council-adopts-directive-on-the-freezing-and-confiscation-of-proceeds-of-crime/

ESO: Background information: Council agrees its position on the European Railway Agency http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-council-agrees-its-position-on-the-european-railway-agency/

ESO: Background information: Council adopts the "European Investigation Order" directive http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-council-adopts-the-european-investigation-order-directive/

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