Activities of Dominique RIQUET related to 2020/0035(COD)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on a European Year of Rail (2021)
Amendments (20)
Amendment 40 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) In line with the objectives set out in the Commission Communication on the European Green Deal, there is a need to transform the Union economy and to rethink policies, in particular in the field of transport and mobility, which implies accelerating the shift to sustainable and smart mobility. Transport accounts for a quarter of the Union’s greenhouse gas emissions, and still growing. To achieve climate neutrality, a 90% reduction in transport emissions is needed by 2050. Achieving sustainable transport means putting users first and providing them with more affordable, accessible, healthier and cleaner, cleaner and more energy-efficient alternatives to their current mobility habits. The European Green Deal implies to accelerate the shift to sustainable and smart mobility to address these challenges. In particular, a substantial part of the 75% of inland freight carried today by road should shift onto rail and inland waterways.
Amendment 46 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) Rail has a significant role to play as a game changer to achieve the climate neutrality objective by 2050. It is one of the most environmentally friendly and energy-efficient transport modes. Rail is largely electrified and emits farseven times less CO2 than equivalent travel by road or airtravel by car and 20 times less than travel by air per passenger- kilometre, and is the only mode that has consistently reduced its greenhouse gas emissions and CO2 emissions since 1990.17a In addition, rail has decreased its energy consumption between 1990-201618 and increasingly uses renewable energy sources. _________________ 17a European Environment Agency, EEA TERM 2014 18DG MOVE Statistical Pocketbook 2019 “EU transport in figures” (source: Eurostat)
Amendment 56 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) By connecting the Union’s main transport routes with its peripheral regions and territories, the rail sector contributes to social, economic and territorial cohesion and its global competitiveness. However, there are missing connections, particularly cross-border connections, which prevents the trans-European transport network from being fully effective.
Amendment 75 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) While the share of passenger rail in the Union land transport has only slightly increased since 2007, the share of freight has decreased. Many obstacles remain to achieve a true Single European Rail Area, including in respect of the need to minimise noise. Overcoming these obstacles together with cost reduction and accelerated innovation will allow rail to realise its full potential. Rail therefore needs a further boost to become more attractive to travellers and businesses alike. The role of the ERA in lowering technical barriers in the Single European Rail Area should be highlighted.
Amendment 77 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) While the share of passenger rail in the Union land transport has only slightly increased since 2007, the share of freight has decreased. Many obstacles remain to achieve a true Single European Rail Area, including in respect of opening up to competition and the need to minimise noise. Overcoming these obstacles together with cost reduction and accelerated innovation will allow rail to realise its full potential. Rail therefore needs a further boost to become more attractive to travellers and businesses alike.
Amendment 81 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 7 a (new)
Recital 7 a (new)
(7a) Investment in rail infrastructure is key to the modal competitiveness of rail. While 80% of funding under the Connecting Europe Facility is channelled towards rail, the Member States, too, have a responsibility to pursue ambitious investment policies to promote the modal shift. These investments should be based on a rail connectivity index in order to maximise the efficiency of the Singe European Rail Area.
Amendment 88 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) In order to promote rail transport in line with the objectives set out in the Commission Communication on the European Green Deal, including with regard to sustainable and smart mobility, the year 2021 should be designated as European Year of Rail. 2021 will be an important year for the Union rail policy, it will be the first full year where the rules agreed under the Fourth Railway Package will be implemented throughout the Union, namely on the opening of the market of domestic passenger services and on reducing costs and administrative burden for railway undertakings operating across the Union. This European Year of Rail should mark the starting point of a broader rail strategy, which aims to complete the Single European Rail Area. There is a growing public interest in railways, including in night trains, in a number of Member States, as also illustrated by the popularity of #DiscoverEU. Moreover, the international arts festival ‘Europalia’ will dedicate its 2021 edition to the influence of railways on the arts and highlight the role of rail as a powerful promotor of social, economic and industrial change.
Amendment 89 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) In order to promote rail transport in line with the objectives set out in the Commission Communication on the European Green Deal, including with regard to sustainable and smart mobility, the year 2021 should be designated as European Year of Rail. 2021 will be an important year for the Union rail policy, it will be the first full year where the rules agreed under the Fourth Railway Package will be implemented throughout the Union, namely on the opening of the market of domestic passenger services and on reducing costs and administrative burden for railway undertakings operating across the Union. There is a growing public interest in railways, including in night trains, in a number of Member States, as also illustrated by the popularity of #DiscoverEU. Rail freight unquestionably has a leading role to play in European mobility policies. Moreover, the international arts festival ‘Europalia’ will dedicate its 2021 edition to the influence of railways on the arts and highlight the role of rail as a powerful promotor of social, economic and, industrial and ecological change.
Amendment 107 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) promote rail as a sustainable, innovative and safe, safe and economical mode of transport, in particular by highlighting the role of rail as a game changer to help reaching the Union’s climate neutrality objective by 2050 and by reaching out to the wider public, especially youth;
Amendment 118 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) enhance the contribution of rail to Union economy, industry and society, covering in particular aspects related to regional development, industrial competitiveness, sustainable tourism, innovation, employment, education, youth and culture, and improving accessibility for persons with disabilities; stress the potential of rail freight for making progress in transport decarbonisation and the need to make more use of long trains and adapted infrastructure, particularly longer platforms; highlight the advantages of rail for sensitive transport, such as the transport of dangerous goods, animals or medicines;
Amendment 134 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(da) stress the Union's place as a global centre of industrial competitiveness with innovative and exporting flagships;
Amendment 137 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d b (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d b (new)
(db) recall the need to make progress in opening up the rail market to competition by means of effective decoupling of infrastructure managers and operators and facilitating data sharing with new entrants and third-party suppliers;
Amendment 141 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d c (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d c (new)
(dc) mobilise the shared European collective imagination of rail, particularly the cultural and historical aspects; stress its prominent place in artistic production over the last two centuries; recall the role of rail in building European prosperity and in the industrial revolutions in cutting-edge technologies in the 21st century;
Amendment 145 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) initiatives and events to promote debate, raise awareness and facilitate citizens, businesses and public authorities' engagement to attract more people and goods to rail as a means to combat climate change, through multiple channels and tools, including events in Member States and their stations, which, as socio- cultural, multi-service, commercial and central administrative spaces, are focal points of the European Year of Rail;
Amendment 152 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) information, exhibitions, inspiration, education and awareness- raising campaigns as well as demonstration and information trains to encourage changes in passenger, consumer and business behaviour and to stimulate an active contribution of the general public to achieving the objectives of more sustainable transport;
Amendment 153 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
(ba) highlighting the strong potential of rail in research and innovation, particularly in connection with hydrogen trains, autonomous trains, improvements in rolling stock performance and the sustainability of infrastructure;
Amendment 162 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
(ea) implementation of the activities, partnerships and events set out in the annex of events and partnerships;
Amendment 163 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. The Commission shall establish a rail connectivity index to identify consistency, quality and diversity of offer and intermodal possibilities in the Single European Rail Area, with the aim of identifying areas where investment in rail infrastructure is particularly needed. The Commission shall inform Parliament and the Council of its plans by March 2022 at the latest.
Amendment 185 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 6 a (new)
Article 6 a (new)
Article 6a Budget The financial envelope for the implementation of this Decision for the period from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2022 shall be EUR 16 million. The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the European Parliament and the Council within the limits of the multiannual financial framework.
Amendment 188 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 8 a (new)
Article 8 a (new)