One of the important – and sensitive – dossiers that the newly elected MEPs will have to tackle is rail liberalisation. Over the next few years, the EU may add the finishing touches to a project that has been in progress since 2001, when the first legislation on opening rail transport to competition was adopted, introducing the liberalisation of international freight transport, on 15 March 2003. The liberalisation of national freight followed, in 2007, and that of international passenger transport is scheduled for January 2010.

That leaves national passenger transport. The dossier should logically be the responsibility of MEPs, if only because the third rail package specifically stipulates that the European Commission will present a report, on 31 December 2012 at the latest, on more openness in the market with, where applicable, concrete proposals.

The Parliament has traditionally been in favour of rail liberalisation – one could even say that it was the EP that carried the dossier in the face of a more reticent Council. Despite the fact that the very vocal German Georg Jarzembowski (EPP-ED), ardent defender and driving force behind rail liberalisation, is no longer in the assembly, a majority of right-wing MEPs should mean that the Parliament’s position will not fundamentally change.

With or without the liberalisation of passenger services, MEPs will have to examine the ‘technical’ conditions that would allow for truly open markets, since the Commission, in the next few months, must review the legislation introducing the measures intended to guarantee non-discriminatory access to the rail infrastructure. The reality is that rail companies continue to complain frequently about obstacles and discrimination when trying to access national markets. Whether or not the Commission really intends to find a solution – the Transport Commissioner, Antonio Tajani, it must be said, is somewhat reticent, it can be guaranteed that MEPs will attack the dossier with vigour. Heated debates are certain to follow.

‘GREEN’ TRANSPORT

Another dossier MEPs will not be able to avoid is that of the sustainability of the European transport system, whether it be from the point of view of emission levels, imposing tariffs or developing infrastructure. These last few weeks the current Environment Commissioner, Stavros Dimas, and the Deputy Director-General of DG Environment, Jos Delbeke, have been heard talking of a possible future ‘transport-climate change’ package similar to the ‘energy-climate change’ package on which EU institutions reached agreement in December 2008. Meanwhile, as we wait for a new white paper on a Common Transport Policy for 2010-2020, MEPs will have to study what action needs to be taken to ensure that the development of the transport sector remains compatible with EU environmental concerns. The test will not be long in coming with the second reading of the symbolic Eurovignette dossier… or how to make transporters pay for the pollution, noise and road congestion.

Another dossier MEPs will not be able to avoid is that of the sustainability of the European transport system

New look

With the departure of previous leaders, the future EP Transport Committee will have to find new people to carry the banner. Exit Georg Jarzembowski (EPP-ED, Germany), Gilles Savary (PES, France) and Paolo Costa (ALDE, Italy), who were more often than not the driving force of the Parliament’s work in this sector.