EC scolds EU countries about rail freight policy delays

EC scolds EU countries about rail freight policy delays    The European Commission started on Wednesday (July 9) legal proceedings against several European Union countries for failing to comply with obligations to implement measures to open up the market for international rail freight and failure to notify the EC of their implementation.
   The EC reported that 10 European Union governments have failed to notify it of the application of the rail infrastructure measures: Austria, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
   The Brussels-based body also said that five of these countries have not implemented the measures: Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal and Spain. The measures, agreed at the European level in 2001, were due to be implemented throughout the EU by March 15 of this year.
   “So far, only France, Belgium, Finland, the Netherlands and Denmark have notified transposition of the first package of measures,” the EC said.
   The EC warned that its legal action against the 10 EU member countries could lead to a hearing before the European Court of Justice.
   The 2001 rail infrastructure measures require EU member states to guarantee access rights to the Trans-European Rail Freight Network for international rail freight services, set charges for the use of infrastructure according to common principles, and define transparent and fair rules and procedures for the allocation of train paths.