BETA


2020/0347(COD) Certain aspects of railway safety and connectivity with regard to the cross-border infrastructure linking the Union and the United Kingdom through the Channel Fixed Link

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead TRAN
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 163, TFEU 091-p1

Events

2020/12/28
   Final act published in Official Journal
2020/12/23
   CSL - Draft final act
Documents
2020/12/23
   EP/CSL - Act adopted by Council after Parliament's 1st reading
2020/12/23
   CSL - Final act signed
2020/12/22
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2020/12/17
   EP - Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 684 votes to 3, with 2 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on certain aspects of railway safety and connectivity with regard to the cross-border infrastructure linking the Union and the United Kingdom through the Channel Fixed Link.

Parliament adopted its position at first reading in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure, taking over the Commission's proposal.

At the end of the transitional period established by the agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU, Union law will no longer be applicable to the part of the Channel fixed link under the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom. In view of the economic importance of the Channel Fixed Link for the EU, it is essential that the operation of the Channel Fixed Link continues after 1 January 2021.

The proposed Regulation aims to ensure the continuity of cross-border rail services with the United Kingdom after the end of the transitional period mentioned in the agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU. It lays down transitional arrangements for certain safety certificates and safety approvals issued under Directive 2004/49/EC and for certain licences of railway undertakings issued under Directive 2012/34/EU.

In concrete terms, the proposal:

- extends the validity of safety authorisations of the infrastructure manager by two months and the validity of safety certificates and licences of railway undertakings by nine months;

- also extends by nine months the validity of the operating licences issued by the United Kingdom under Directive 2012/34/EU in order to allow railway undertakings to continue to operate up to the Calais-Fréthun border-crossing station and thus ensure connectivity between the Union and the United Kingdom.

Documents
2020/12/14
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
2020/12/10
   EP - Decision by committee, without report
2020/11/27
   EC - Legislative proposal published
Details

PURPOSE: to establish interim measures to ensure the continuity of cross-border rail services with the United Kingdom after the end of the transition period.

PROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council.

BACKGROUND: the Treaty between France and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland concerning the construction and operation by private concessionaries of a Channel fixed link, signed in Canterbury on 12 February 1986, established an intergovernmental committee to supervise all matters concerning the construction and operation of the Channel Fixed Link.

After the end of the transition period set out in the withdrawal agreement, unless otherwise provided, EU law will no longer be applicable to the part of the Channel Fixed Link under the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom and, as regards the part of the Channel Fixed Link under French jurisdiction, the Intergovernmental Commission will no longer be a national safety authority under Union law.

The safety authorisations for the Channel Fixed Link infrastructure manager and safety certificates for railway undertakings operating through the Fixed Link issued by the Intergovernmental Commission will no longer be valid.

By Decision (EU) 2020/1531 of the European Parliament and of the Council, France was empowered to negotiate, sign and conclude an international agreement with the United Kingdom regarding the application of the railway safety and interoperability rules of the Union to the Channel Fixed Link, with the aim of maintaining a unified safety regime.

However, it is unlikely that such agreement will enter into force by the end of the transition period.

In the light of the economic importance of the Channel Fixed Link to the EU, it is essential that the Channel Fixed Link continue to operate after 1 January 2021.

CONTENT: in view of the end of the transitional period referred to in the withdrawal agreement, the proposed Regulation lays down transitional provisions for certain safety certificates and safety approvals issued under Directive 2004/49/EC and for certain licences of railway undertakings issued under Directive 2012/34/EU .

In concrete terms, the proposal:

- extends the validity of safety authorisations of the infrastructure manager by two months and the validity of safety certificates and licences of railway undertakings by nine months;

- also extends by nine months the validity of the operating licences issued by the United Kingdom under Directive 2012/34/EU in order to allow railway undertakings to continue to operate up to the Calais-Fréthun border-crossing station and thus ensure connectivity between the Union and the United Kingdom;

- provides that such authorisations, certificates and licences are subject to Directive (EU) 2016/798 and Directive 2012/34/EU respectively and requires their holders of to cooperate with the French National Safety Authority and licensing authority and provide the necessary information; the French National Safety Authority and licensing authority must monitor that the holders of these authorisations, certificates and licences

comply with EU law;

- confers implementing powers on the Commission to withdraw the benefit conferred on the holders of the approvals/certificates and licences in question, where compliance with EU requirements is not ensured.

Documents

Votes

Demande d'application de la procédure d'urgence: Certains aspects de la sécurité et de la connectivité du transport ferroviaire eu égard à la liaison fixe transmanche - C9-0379/2020 - 2020/0347(COD) #

2020/12/14 Outcome: +: 687, 0: 4, -: 4
DE FR IT ES PL RO NL BE SE PT HU EL CZ AT BG DK SK IE LT HR FI LV SI EE CY LU MT
Total
94
79
74
59
51
33
29
20
20
20
20
21
21
19
17
14
14
13
11
12
14
8
8
7
6
6
5
icon: PPE PPE
182

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Latvia PPE

2

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1
2

Luxembourg PPE

2

Malta PPE

2
icon: S&D S&D
142

Greece S&D

2

Lithuania S&D

2

Latvia S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

2

Estonia S&D

2

Cyprus S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1
icon: Renew Renew
97

Italy Renew

For (1)

1

Sweden Renew

2

Hungary Renew

2

Austria Renew

For (1)

1

Slovakia Renew

2

Ireland Renew

2

Lithuania Renew

2

Croatia Renew

For (1)

1

Finland Renew

3

Latvia Renew

For (1)

1

Slovenia Renew

2

Estonia Renew

3

Luxembourg Renew

2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
72

Spain Verts/ALE

3

Poland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Portugal Verts/ALE

1

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: ID ID
75

Netherlands ID

Against (1)

1

Czechia ID

2
3

Denmark ID

For (1)

1

Finland ID

2

Estonia ID

For (1)

1
icon: ECR ECR
62

Germany ECR

For (1)

1

Romania ECR

1

Greece ECR

1

Bulgaria ECR

2

Lithuania ECR

1

Croatia ECR

For (1)

1

Latvia ECR

2
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
39

Netherlands GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Belgium GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Czechia GUE/NGL

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2
icon: NI NI
26

Germany NI

2

Netherlands NI

1

Hungary NI

1

Slovakia NI

Abstain (1)

2

Croatia NI

Abstain (1)

2

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

docs/0
date
2020-11-27T00:00:00
docs
summary
type
Legislative proposal
body
EC
events/0
date
2020-11-27T00:00:00
type
Legislative proposal published
body
EC
docs
summary
events/1
date
2020-12-14T00:00:00
type
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
events/1/type
Old
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
New
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading
events/2
date
2020-12-14T00:00:00
type
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
events/2
date
2020-12-17T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2020-0381_EN.html title: T9-0381/2020
summary
events/2/type
Old
Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
New
Decision by Parliament, 1st reading
events/3
date
2020-12-17T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2020-0381_EN.html title: T9-0381/2020
summary
procedure/instrument
Old
Regulation
New
  • Regulation
  • Amended by 2021/0228(COD)
docs/0
date
2020-12-23T00:00:00
docs
title: 00060/2020/LEX
type
Draft final act
body
CSL
docs/0
date
2020-11-27T00:00:00
docs
type
Legislative proposal
body
EC
events/0/summary
  • PURPOSE: to establish interim measures to ensure the continuity of cross-border rail services with the United Kingdom after the end of the transition period.
  • PROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council.
  • ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council.
  • BACKGROUND: the Treaty between France and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland concerning the construction and operation by private concessionaries of a Channel fixed link, signed in Canterbury on 12 February 1986, established an intergovernmental committee to supervise all matters concerning the construction and operation of the Channel Fixed Link.
  • After the end of the transition period set out in the withdrawal agreement, unless otherwise provided, EU law will no longer be applicable to the part of the Channel Fixed Link under the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom and, as regards the part of the Channel Fixed Link under French jurisdiction, the Intergovernmental Commission will no longer be a national safety authority under Union law.
  • The safety authorisations for the Channel Fixed Link infrastructure manager and safety certificates for railway undertakings operating through the Fixed Link issued by the Intergovernmental Commission will no longer be valid.
  • By Decision (EU) 2020/1531 of the European Parliament and of the Council, France was empowered to negotiate, sign and conclude an international agreement with the United Kingdom regarding the application of the railway safety and interoperability rules of the Union to the Channel Fixed Link, with the aim of maintaining a unified safety regime.
  • However, it is unlikely that such agreement will enter into force by the end of the transition period.
  • In the light of the economic importance of the Channel Fixed Link to the EU, it is essential that the Channel Fixed Link continue to operate after 1 January 2021.
  • CONTENT: in view of the end of the transitional period referred to in the withdrawal agreement, the proposed Regulation lays down transitional provisions for certain safety certificates and safety approvals issued under Directive 2004/49/EC and for certain licences of railway undertakings issued under Directive 2012/34/EU .
  • In concrete terms, the proposal:
  • - extends the validity of safety authorisations of the infrastructure manager by two months and the validity of safety certificates and licences of railway undertakings by nine months;
  • - also extends by nine months the validity of the operating licences issued by the United Kingdom under Directive 2012/34/EU in order to allow railway undertakings to continue to operate up to the Calais-Fréthun border-crossing station and thus ensure connectivity between the Union and the United Kingdom;
  • - provides that such authorisations, certificates and licences are subject to Directive (EU) 2016/798 and Directive 2012/34/EU respectively and requires their holders of to cooperate with the French National Safety Authority and licensing authority and provide the necessary information; the French National Safety Authority and licensing authority must monitor that the holders of these authorisations, certificates and licences
  • comply with EU law;
  • - confers implementing powers on the Commission to withdraw the benefit conferred on the holders of the approvals/certificates and licences in question, where compliance with EU requirements is not ensured.
events/1
date
2020-12-10T00:00:00
type
Decision by committee, without report
body
EP
events/2
date
2020-12-14T00:00:00
type
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
events/3
date
2020-12-17T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2020-0381_EN.html title: T9-0381/2020
summary
events/4
date
2020-12-22T00:00:00
type
End of procedure in Parliament
body
EP
events/5
date
2020-12-23T00:00:00
type
Act adopted by Council after Parliament's 1st reading
body
EP/CSL
events/6
date
2020-12-23T00:00:00
type
Final act signed
body
CSL
events/7
date
2020-12-28T00:00:00
type
Final act published in Official Journal
docs
forecasts
  • date: 2020-12-14T00:00:00 title: Indicative plenary sitting date, 1st reading/single reading
procedure/dossier_of_the_committee
  • TRAN/9/04755
procedure/final
title
Regulation 2020/2222
url
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=32020R2222
procedure/legal_basis/0
Rules of Procedure EP 163
procedure/stage_reached
Old
Preparatory phase in Parliament
New
Procedure completed
commission
  • body: EC dg: Mobility and Transport commissioner: VĂLEAN Adina-Ioana
docs/0/docs/1
url
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!DocNumber&lg=EN&type_doc=COMfinal&an_doc=2020&nu_doc=0782
title
EUR-Lex
events/0/docs/1
url
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!DocNumber&lg=EN&type_doc=COMfinal&an_doc=2020&nu_doc=0782
title
EUR-Lex
otherinst
  • name: European Economic and Social Committee
  • name: European Committee of the Regions
procedure/other_consulted_institutions
European Economic and Social Committee European Committee of the Regions