PURPOSE: to extend the deadline for transposing the Directives on railway safety and the interoperability of the rail system in the fourth railway package, following the COVID-19 outbreak.
LEGISLATIVE ACT: Directive (EU) 2020/700 of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directives (EU) 2016/797 and (EU) 2016/798, as regards the extension of their transposition periods.
CONTENT: under the adopted Regulation, the deadline for transposition of the directives on railway safety and the interoperability of the rail system contained in the fourth railway package currently set at 16 June 2020 shall be extended to 31 October 2020.
This shall provide the railway sector and the authorities with greater legal certainty and flexibility to deal with the exceptional circumstances resulting from the spread of the coronavirus.
Several delegated acts were adopted on the basis of directive 2016/798, taking into account the original transposition deadlines. In view of the current situation, these delegated acts need to be aligned to the new transposition deadline.
ENTRY INTO FORCE: 28.5.2020.