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Rail recast vote sets wrong signals
17 November 2011
Yesterday, 16 November 2011, the European Parliament (EP) has voted in favour of more liberalisation and fragmentation of the railway sector by asking the European Commission to formulate a legislative proposal for total separation of infrastructure management and rail traffic and for liberalisation of domestic rail passenger transport before the end of next year. The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) expresses its disappointment with the outcome of the Plenary vote and is committed to continue its fight for integrated rail companies and affordable high quality services for passengers.
The Strasbourg Plenary meeting has decided on the proposal for a directive establishing a single European railway area (A7-0367/2011), the so-called “recast of the 1st railway package”. It includes a compulsory organisational separation of rail related services, which prepares the terrain for privatisation and subcontracting such services. Additionally, the EP has now asked the European Commission (EC) to formulate legislative proposals for total separation of infrastructure management and operations and for liberalisation of the rail passenger services, regardless the strong opposition from the workers’ side.
The ETF highly welcomes the EP decision to reject any attempt of the European Commission to interfere in the fundamental right to strike by deleting a general requirement of minimum services in the case of strike.
ETF Deputy General Secretary, Sabine Trier reacts on the outcome of the plenary vote: “The European Parliament has set the wrong signals by favouring further fragmentation and disintegration of the railway sector. This will mean additional costs for the public, passengers and the railway workers. The ETF will do the utmost to avoid that the railway sector in Europe will be destroyed by further liberalisation. The ETF will keep fighting against a dogmatic “the-markets-fix-it-all” approach. Any future decisions on these issues have to be based on a proper analysis of the situation, taking the reality of the railway sector and its needs into account.”
The ETF is of the opinion that Europe has the obligation to provide accessible and affordable public rail services, thereby promoting the use of safe and sustainable transport, sustainable on environmental, economic and social levels, with respect for the workers’ rights.
For further information please contact:
Sabine Trier, ETF Deputy General Secretary (Tel. +32(0)477 51 28 14, email s.trier@etf-europe.org)
ENDS
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Related documents:
ETF Press Release EP votes 17 11 2011 (62kb PDF)
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