First Railway Package (Directive)

An effective regulation of the railway sector through the EU is absolutely necessary. The establishment of independent regulatory bodies is mandatory. Contract agreements between Member States and infrastructure managers create planning certainty on public financing. The maintained principle according to which infrastructure managers may take into account only marginal costs when levying railway charges constitutes an obstacle to the necessary development of infrastructure. The Commission's intention to regulate essential aspects of the Directive at executive level through delegated acts, infringes EU law.