On 17 June 2015, the Latvian presidency of the Council struck a provisional deal with the European Parliament on new rules to improve interoperability and safety authorisation procedures for European railways. The reform also gives new tasks to the European Railway Agency (ERA). Together, the two directives and a regulation make up the technical pillar of the fourth railway package.
For the Council, the agreement still has to be confirmed by member states. The presidency will present the agreed texts to member states' ambassadors at the Permanent Representatives Committee on 24 June.
The agreement was reached in the ninth trilogue meeting with the Parliament. The Council approved its position for these negotiations in June 2014.
On 13 March 2015, the Council adopted Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/432[1].
The Council Decision renews the existing measures until 15 September 2015, amends the entries for certain persons, and amends the list of persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures as set out in the Annex to Decision 2014/145/CFSP
The Candidate Countries Montenegro* and Albania*, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine align themselves with this Council Decision.
They will ensure that their national policies conform to this Council Decision.
The European Union takes note of this commitment and welcomes it.
[1] Published on 14.3.2015 in the Official Journal of the European Union no. L 70, p.47.
The Candidate Countries Turkey, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, Montenegro* and Albania*, and the EFTA countries Iceland and Liechtenstein, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Georgia align themselves with this Council Decision.
They will ensure that their national policies conform to this Council Decision.
The European Union takes note of this commitment and welcomes it.
[1] Published on 21.3.2015 in the Official Journal of the European Union no. L 77, p. 17.
*The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.
On 20 March 2015, the Council adopted Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/486[1] amending Decision 2011/172/CFSP. The Council Decision renews existing measures until 22 March 2016.
The Candidate Countries the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, Montenegro*, Serbia* and Albania*, the country of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidate Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the EFTA countries Iceland and Liechtenstein, members of the European Economic Area, as well as the Republic of Moldova and Georgia align themselves with this Council Decision.
They will ensure that their national policies conform to this Council Decision.
The European Union takes note of this commitment and welcomes it.
[1]Published on 21.3.2015 in the Official Journal of the European Union no. L 77, p. 16.
*The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.