Directive (EU) 2020/700

What it is

to extend by three months, the final transition period of Directive (EU) 2016/797 on the interoperability of the rail system within the European Union and Directive (EU) 2016/798 on railway safety following the COVID-19 outbreak. PROPOSED ACT: Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council. ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure on an equal footing with the Council. BACKGROUND: the negative economic consequences of the current COVID-19 outbreak could endanger the financial health of railway undertakings and infrastructure managers and have serious negative effects on the transport system and the economy as a whole. The European Parliament adopted by 646 votes to 6, with 38 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive (EU) 2016/797 and Directive (EU) 2016/798, as regards the extension of their transposition period. Parliament adopted its position at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure. As the agreement was reached between Parliament and Council, Parliament's position corresponds to the final legislative act. The proposal aims at extending the deadline for transposition of the Directives on railway safety and interoperability of the rail system contained in the Fourth Railway Package in order to give the railway sector and the authorities the necessary flexibility and legal certainty in the exceptional circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. The deadline for transposition of the Directives on railway safety and interoperability of the rail system contained in the fourth railway package, currently set at 16 June 2020, shall be extended until 31 October 2020. PURPOSE: to extend the deadline for transposing the Directives on railway safety and the interoperability of the rail system in the fourth railway package, following the COVID-19 outbreak. LEGISLATIVE ACT: Directive (EU) 2020/700 of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directives (EU) 2016/797 and (EU) 2016/798, as regards the extension of their transposition periods. CONTENT: under the adopted Regulation, the deadline for transposition of the directives on railway safety and the interoperability of the rail system contained in the fourth railway package currently set at 16 June 2020 shall be extended to 31 October 2020. This shall provide the railway sector and the authorities with greater legal certainty and flexibility to deal with the exceptional circumstances resulting from the spread of the coronavirus. Several delegated acts were adopted on the basis of directive 2016/798, taking into account the original transposition deadlines. In view of the current situation, these delegated acts need to be aligned to the new transposition deadline.

Frequently asked