Plenary Session: Application of railway safety and interoperability rules within the Channel tunnel

Application of railway safety and interoperability rules within the Channel tunnel (C9-0212/2020)

Directive 2016/798 requires each Member State (MS) to establish a national safety authority with specified tasks for railway safety. This authority can be a body created unilaterally by the Member State concerned or, alternatively, by a body several MS placed in charge of these tasks, in order to ensure a unified security regime.

Due to the departure of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union (EU), it is essential to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the connection through the Channel Tunnel, through the stipulation of specific rules in relation to the designated security authorities, as well as to the functions of the MS concerned, while allowing Union law to be applied at all times.

In view of the above, I subscribe to the amendment to the Directive, which will allow full resolution of any disputes between the MS concerned and the third country in the field of railway safety, when issues of interpretation of Union law are at issue, empowering the Court of Justice of the European Union to make preliminary decisions on matters of this nature.

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