The Committee on Legal Affairs adopted the report by Heidi HAUTALA (Greens/EFA, FI) on the draft Council decision on the approval, on behalf of the European Union, of the Protocol to the Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment on Matters specific to Railway Rolling Stock, adopted in Luxembourg on 23 February 2007.
Members considered that the Rail Protocol is compatible with Union law and that the choice of legal bases for the proposal is correct. Article 81 TFEU provides for the adoption of measures for the approximation of laws and regulations of the member States in the field of judicial cooperation in civil matters having cross-border implications in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure. Article 218(6) lays down the procedure for concluding international agreements and determines when Parliament's consent is needed, which is the case as regards the protocol in question.
Therefore, Members recommended the European Parliament to give its consent to the Protocol.