The Commission's initial proposal concerned the transport of goods by rail. Parliament wishes to go in the direction of the Commission's proposals in this area in order to bring about a speedy, complete opening of the market for rail freight services. It wants the deadline of 2005 for presenting the report on the situation of market opening to be maintained, as provided for under the current Directives, and not to be postponed until 2007.
It also wants the report to take account of passenger traffic.
The Commission can accept these amendments.
Parliament also wishes to address the issue of opening up the market for passenger services in the framework of this second railway package. The Commission maintains the stance it already expressed at first reading on this issue and is unable to accept the Parliament's amendments on this issue.�