The Council held a policy debate on the basis of a questionnaire presented by the Presidency on the proposal for a Regulation on International Rail Passengers' Rights and Obligations (Third Railway Package). The Council instructed the Permanent Representatives Committee to continue proceedings on the proposal in the light of the guidelines drawn up at the close of the debate.
The arrangements which the Commission wishes to introduce are prompted partly by the provisions of the COTIF (the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail) and its CIV Appendix (Uniform Rules concerning the Contract for International Carriage of Passengers and Luggage by Rail), and partly by Community rules adopted for air passengers. At the same time the Commission is proposing new measures.