18 Rail research and innovation
| (35674)
17967/13
+ ADDs 1-3
COM(13) 922
| Draft Council Regulation establishing the Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking
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| Legal base | Articles 187 and 188 TFEU; consultation; QMV
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| Department | Transport
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| Basis of consideration | Minister's letter of 11 February 2014
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| Previous Committee Report | HC 83-xxviii (2013-14), chapter 4 (22 January 2014)
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| Discussion in Council | Probably 14 March 2014
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| Committee's assessment | Politically important
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| Committee's decision | Cleared
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Background
18.1 The EU has longstanding policies aimed at, in
the context of a "Single European Transport Area", amongst
other matters creating trans-European transport networks, a single
market for transport undertakings and a shift to rail, particularly
for freight, from other transport modes.
18.2 The EU may establish joint undertakings, that
is, partnerships with other bodies, necessary for the efficient
execution of EU research, technological development and demonstration
programmes.
18.3 The Commission proposes, with this draft Regulation,
establishment of a joint undertaking between the EU, represented
by the Commission, and the rail industry, to be known as the Shift2Rail
Joint Undertaking, in order to support rail research and innovation.
The object would be to achieve a reduction in overall costs to
the rail user and/or taxpayer as well as increasing capacity and
reliability of rail services.
18.4 When we considered this matter last month we
noted the Government's enthusiasm for the proposed Joint Undertaking.
However, we did not know whether the Government had any concerns
about the text of the draft Regulation or the proposed statutes
for the Joint Undertaking which it would be addressing during
negotiation of the proposal. So we asked to have, before considering
the document further, information on any such points. Meanwhile
the document remained under scrutiny.[80]
The Minister's letter of 11 February 2014
18.5 The Minister of State, Department for Transport
(Baroness Kramer), tells us now that that the Government does
not have any significant concerns about the proposed text, but
that officials will be seeking clarification on two relatively
minor specific points:
· the definition of 50% increase in reliability
in Article 2 paragraph 2c; and
· the wording, in Article 2 paragraph 2d,
around interoperability, to remove any ambiguity around innovations
relating mainly to the UK railway.
18.6 The Minister continues that:
· initial soundings at working group level
have indicated that other Member States are likely to accept these
requests for clarification; and
· working group discussions indicate that
Member States are supportive of the proposal and she therefore
expects that the Greek Presidency will be able to achieve a general
approach on this proposal at the 14 March Transport Council.
Conclusion
18.7 We are grateful to the Minister for this
information and, having no further questions, now clear the document.
80 See headnote. Back
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