IMPROPER IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FIRST RAIL PACKAGE IS BEING AMENDED

The European Commission sent letters of formal notice to 24 member states, including Romania, regarding their failure to implement the First Railway Package legislation properly. Implementing the above-mentioned package would engender better ”competition on European railway markets and increase the competitiveness of railways in relation to other modes of transport,“ according to Antonio Tajani, European Commissioner for Transport. The deadline for implementation of the First Package was March 2003.

In May 2006, the Commission found that, although Member States had introduced the necessary legislation, some countries needed to take further measures to ensure an effective regulatory framework as well as the satisfactory functioning of the railway markets. Following a detailed analysis of the conformity of national legislations, the

Commission mainly noted shortcomings such as:

- Lack of independence of the infrastructure manager in relation to railway

operators;

- Insufficient implementation of the rules of the Directive on track access;

- Failure to set up an independent Regulatory Body.