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REPORT (COM(2023)0328 – C90205/2023 – 2023/0192(COD))

On the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council empowering the French Republic to negotiate, sign and conclude an international agreement on the safety and interoperability requirements within the Channel Fixed Link

A-9-2024-0018

Committee on Transport and Tourism · Rapporteur: Petar Vitanov

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Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

Parliament's amended version of the Commission proposal empowers France to negotiate, sign and conclude an international agreement with the United Kingdom on safety and interoperability in the Channel Fixed Link. The agreement must comply with conditions in Articles 2 and 3, and France must submit the draft to the Commission, which decides within one month whether the requirements are met. France may also negotiate amendments to adapt the agreement to future changes in Union law, keeping the Commission informed and inviting it as an observer. The Commission decides within three months whether the requirements for amendments are fulfilled, and Decision (EU) 2020/1531 remains applicable to the extent referred to in Article 5(1a).

Committee position. The Committee on Transport and Tourism proposes to approve the Commission proposal with amendments, in line with the simplified procedure (Rule 52(2)).

Key points

  1. France is empowered to negotiate, sign and conclude an international agreement with the United Kingdom on safety and interoperability requirements in the Channel Fixed Link, and cooperation between the EPSF and the ORR.
  2. The agreement must comply with the conditions set out in Articles 2 and 3 of the Decision.
  3. After negotiations, France must submit the draft agreement to the Commission, which immediately informs the Council and Parliament.
  4. Within one month of notification, the Commission decides whether the Article 2 requirements are fulfilled and informs the Council and Parliament; if so, France may sign and conclude the agreement.
  5. France may negotiate amendments to adapt the agreement to future changes in Union law, particularly Regulation (EU) 2016/796 and Directives (EU) 2016/797 and (EU) 2016/798, if needed for full application of Union law.
  6. France may also negotiate amendments so the agreement complies with the conditions in Article 1 of Decision (EU) 2020/1531.
  7. France must keep the Commission regularly informed of amendment negotiations, may invite it as an observer, and must submit envisaged amendments with an explanatory note; the Commission immediately informs the Council and Parliament.
  8. Within three months of notification, the Commission decides whether the requirements in paragraph 1 and Article 2 are fulfilled; if so, it informs the Council and Parliament and France may proceed with the amendment.
  9. A copy of the amended agreement must be provided to the Commission within one month of entry into force or of the beginning of provisional application.
  10. Decision (EU) 2020/1531 remains applicable to the extent referred to in Article 5(1a).

Who is affected

  • France: empowered to negotiate, sign, conclude and amend the agreement with the United Kingdom.
  • United Kingdom: party to the international agreement on safety and interoperability in the Channel Fixed Link.
  • Commission: receives draft agreement and amendments, decides on fulfilment of requirements, informs Council and Parliament.
  • EPSF and ORR: national safety authorities whose cooperation the agreement must ensure.

Figures and deadlines

  • Within one month from the notification of the draft agreement, the Commission shall adopt a decision.
  • Within [three] months from the notification of the envisaged amendment, the Commission shall adopt a decision.
  • A copy of the amended agreement shall be provided to the Commission within one month of the entry into force of the amendment, or within one month of the beginning of its provisional application.

Legal basis: Article 294(2) and Article 91 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union