The Committee on Transport and Tourism adopted the report by Michael CRAMER (Greens/EFA, DE) on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on railway safety (recast).
The parliamentary committee recommended that the European Parliament’s position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure should be to amend the Commission’s proposal as follows:
Minimum provisions: the Directive would lay down minimum provisions, beyond which Member States may legislate only in accordance with the rules, to ensure the development and further improvement of safety of the Union's railways and improved access to the market for rail transport services by:
According to the report, safety should be ensured not only for passengers and employees, including the staff of contractors, but also for users of level crossings and persons residing near railway lines.
Role of actors in the rail system: Members recommended that there be a clear distinction between tasks and responsibilities between the Agency and the national safety authorities.
The Agency would become a one-stop shop for safety certificates in the Union, using the valuable expertise, local knowledge and experience of national safety authorities. It should have exclusive competence to issue, renew, amend or revoke safety certificates for both railway undertakings and infrastructure managers.
Member States, the Agency and all actors of the rail system shall establish a 'just culture' that ensures the consistent reporting of accidents, incidents and potential safety risks. Member States should support the Agency in its work of monitoring the development of railway safety on a Union level.
The Agency would set up and manage a centralised database containing all information submitted in relation to incidents and accidents.
National rules: Member States would be able to draft new national rules after the entry into force of the Directive only in a certain number of cases. After receipt of the draft national rule, the Agency should initiate a coordination process involving all national safety authorities in order to ensure the highest possible degree of harmonisation across the Union.
The Agency would establish and publish common guidelines for the adoption of new, or the amendment of existing, national rules.
Safety management system: this would ensure the control of all risks associated with the activity of the infrastructure manager or railway undertaking, including proper qualification and training of staff, as well as the supply of maintenance and material and the use of contractors.
For cross-border infrastructure, and in particular for cross-border tunnels, specific safety management systems would be developed and improved in order to ensure the necessary coordination and preparedness of the competent emergency services on both sides of the border.
Infrastructure managers would also establish a system for coordination with managers in neighbouring countries with which the network is linked.
Applications for single safety certificates: Members considered that the Agency should take a decision on an application without delay and in any event not more than three months after receipt of the application.
Maintenance of vehicles: the Agency should set up and make public, and subsequently update without delay, a register of certified entities in charge of maintenance. When drafting or amending TSIs, the Agency should harmonise rules on minimum maintenance requirements in order to ensure the safety of the entire rail system.
National safety authority: the amended text provided for the possibility of Member States also deciding to jointly establish a safety authority competent for their territories. The tasks of the national safety agency would include:
Transition period: Members recommended a time limit of 1 year after entry into force of the Directive Contractual is defined for the establishment of arrangements that define the scope, procedures and hierarchy of cooperation between the Agency and the national safety authorities.
The deadline for transposition and the entry into force of the Directive was brought forward from two years to one year.