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Brussels, |
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International relations in Rail Transport
MOBILITY & TRANSPORT
The Lisbon Treaty enhanced the European Commission’s role in representing the EU externally in areas of shared competence, including transport. As outlined in the 2011 White Paper on Transport, the EU aims to strengthen international cooperation on railway policy and extend its transport market rules to neighbouring regions.
Key International Partnerships
- The EU became a member of the Organisation for International Transport by Rail (OTIF), as of 1 July 2011.
- A cooperation agreement was signed with the Organisation for Cooperation between Railways (OSJD) in March 2016, with a view to potential EU accession once OSJD’s legal framework is revised.
- The EU promotes the deployment of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) and participation of neighbouring countries in activities of the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA).
Neighbourhood and Enlargement Cooperation
- The Transport Community Treaty with Western Balkans was successfully negotiated to support rail integration based on mutual infrastructure access and fair competition.
- The South East European Transport Observatory (SEETO) helps seven regional partners prepare for EU accession through coordinated transport policy and infrastructure development.
- The EU supports rail market integration with Eastern neighbours by including the 1520/1524 mm track gauge system in EU technical standards and exploring improvements in trans-shipment procedures between track gauges.
Multilateral Engagement and Legal Harmonisation
- The EU represents Member States at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), working to align Euro-Asian rail transport rules.
- A 2013 Joint Declaration by 37 UNECE countries called for integration of the two main European legal frameworks: OTIF and OSJD.
Competitiveness of the EU Rail Supply Industry
In response to a 2016 European Parliament resolution, the Commission created an expert group on the competitiveness of the rail supply industry. The group held six meetings between 2018 and 2019 and published a 2019 report with policy recommendations addressing:
- Digitalisation and innovation
- Skills and training
- Internal market and standardisation
- EU procurement and funding mechanisms
- SME access to finance and global markets
- Intellectual property protection
Brexit
The EU continues to manage implications for rail transport policy post-Brexit, particularly concerning market access and interoperability standards.
Key Documents and Agreements
