Activities of Gheorghe FALCĂ related to 2023/2160(DEC)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for Railways for the financial year 2022
Amendments (9)
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Stresses that this terrible war has showcased the crucial role railways can play; notes that since the invasion of the Ukraine, railways have been a significant asset for the movement of people and goods, especially with the closure of Ukraine’s airspace for civil aviation; points out that Ukrainian railways have transported soldiers, essential workers, residents, as well as numerous vital goods such as agricultural goods;
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. Stresses that in 2022, railway companies across the European Union continued their recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, its continued resilience, along with its low carbon emissions are two essential contributing factors, which will help the sector to reach pre-pandemic levels in the future;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes the report on EU Railway safety and interoperability; and the continuous commitment of the Agency to the objective of creating a Single European Railway Area and its sustained work in key areas such as reducing national rules and ensuring the maturity of its technical specifications for interoperability; notes that such an important work will support the strengthening of rail interoperability across Europe, in line with the European Commission policy expectations;
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Welcomes the EUMedRail project that promotes regional cooperation with the Southern Mediterranean partners in the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy; notes that in particular, the project encourages the exchange of best practices in the field of interoperability and safety of the EU railway system and the promotion of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS);
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6 b. Welcomes that the Agency achieved a very high degree of digitalisation, eliminating paper-processes and bringing forward online solutions such as e-procurement, e-invoicing, electronic travel booking; notes that the Agency has continuously cooperated with the European Commission to increase its efficiency;
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6 c. Notes that when the EU candidate countries join the Union, they will have already implemented the framework and the EU acquis; points out that this will allow EU citizens to use rail as environmentally friendly and safe mode of transport and transport their goods from/to South-Eastern Europe, as rail freight corridors are today connecting the Western Balkans with the EU; stresses that the IPA and Western Balkan Project will support the implementation of the Interoperability Directive and the Safety Directive among the project beneficiaries; also notes that this will provide the base for a market opening of rail services and seamless train rides from and to this neighbouring region;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Commends the Agency’s efficiency and budget execution through Strengthening Action Plan adopted as part of Single Programming Document 2023- 2025; notes however that these efforts cannot compensate the insufficient budget; notes that Single Programming Document and the Consolidated Annual Activity Report are key documents ensuring an efficient governance of the Agency, in terms of planning, monitoring and reporting;
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Salutes that the Agency contributed to EU cooperation with Ukraine on resilience and development of rail links; the agency supported Ukraine and the people around the world by finding additional ways to increase the volume of transport of Ukrainian food products by rail;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Recalls that the Agency has the smallest budget among the transport agencies despite the outstanding environmental benefits of rail prioritized by Commission; calls for an increase of the budget of the Agency in order to provide it with the necessary means to enable it to act as an efficient authority and to fulfil its tasks;