AIF-2016 ro

Category Archives: Legături utile

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ALERT | Positive RISC vote for the implementing regulation on vehicle authorisation

Category : asociaţii europene

Dear UNIFE Members,

UNIFE has received news that the Implementing Regulation on practical arrangements for the railway vehicle authorisation and railway vehicle type authorisation process pursuant to Directive (EU) 2016/797 of the European Parliament and of the Council has today received a positive vote in the Railways Interoperability and Safety Committee (RISC). This is a great achievement for the European Railways and a major milestone in the implementation of the Fourth Railway Package Technical Pillar.

For the European rail supply industry, the practical arrangements for vehicle authorisation under the fourth railway package is a key document in establishing a simplified and harmonised vehicle authorisation process throughout Europe and for achieving the benefits of the Fourth Railway Package Technical Pillar. It is estimated that the Technical Pillar of the Fourth Railway Package will bring a 20% reduction in the cost and duration of the authorisation of rolling stock, contributing to a saving for companies of €500 million by 2025.

UNIFE would also like to thank the technical experts from our members and the UNIFE Standards and Regulation Group for their tireless work and contribution throughout the development process.

For any questions regarding this topic, please contact Nicolas Furio.


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UNIFE: European Court of Auditors Report on ERTMS

Category : asociaţii europene

 

UNIFE: European Court of Auditors Report on ERTMS

We would like to draw your attention to the European Court of Auditors recently published report on ERTMS: http://www.eca.europa.eu/en/Pages/DocItem.aspx?did=41794

You can download the full report in 23 EU languages.

 


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Asociatia Industrie Feroviare din Romania serbeaza astazi 10 ANI

În anul 2007 lua nastere AIF, Asociatia Industriei Feroviare, prima constituire într-o organizatie a industriei feroviare românesti, AIF fiind, încă de la înfiintare, singura asociatie natională din România membră UNIFE – UniuneaIndustriei Feroviare din Europa.

Misiunea asumată de către AIF – Asociatia Industriei Feroviare din România este aceea de a contribuisemnificativ la cresterea notorietătii transportului pe sină, la promovarea utilizării interne, dar si a exporturilor de produse autohtone, la mentinerea unui sistem deschis de piată si a unui mediu de afaceri puternic si competitiv, precum si la depistarea potentialelor proiecte si promovarea acestora către factorii de decizie.

AIF este VicePresedinte CONPIROM, membru reprezentativ în CDS – MT, a colaborat la organizarea a numeroase întâlniri, mese rotunde, conferinte, expozitii sau colocvii tehnice atât la nivel national cât si international, a participat la cinci editii ale târgului international InnoTrans, Berlin, unde a organizat în premieră participarea într-un stand comun a industriei feroviare românesti, a avut luări de pozitie cu privire la diverse evenimente din domeniul feroviar sau a amendat proiectele legislative din domeniu, a fost implicată în crearea MPGTR sau a Platformei România Feroviară 2020.

Născută din initiativa a cinci membri fondatori, astăzi, la zece ani de la înfiintare, AIF numără 24 demembri, reprezentând toate domeniile industriei feroviare românesti.

Un evenimentul festiv  “AIF 10 ANI” , dedicat exclusiv membrilor si colaboratorilor AIF, va avea loc pe data de 21 Septembrie 2017, Salonului Oficial al Garii Regale Băneasa.


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Agreement on EU-Japan FTA negotiations

Category : asociaţii europene

UNIFE calls political agreement on EU-Japan FTA a step in the right direction but stresses the importance of monitoring rail deal

Brussels, 6 July 2017

Following today’s political agreement between the European Commission and the Japanese government, UNIFE calls on both parties to monitor the enforcement of commitments in order to ensure a true level-playing field for European rail suppliers. The Association, which represents the European rail supply industry, welcomes the long-awaited announcement of the removal of the Operational Safety Clause (OSC) – a major non-tariff barrier impacting the European rail supply industry – within a reasonable transition period of maximum one year after entry into force of the agreement.

UNIFE also welcomes the exchange of letters on railways to anchor the current cooperation between the two parties, in particular the Railway Industrial Dialogue. It is of utmost importance that Japan renews its commitment to implement the ‘one-year package’ of measures on railways enforced in 2014. The measures have been helpful to begin increasing transparency in procurement and facilitating market penetration by European suppliers, even if examples of new business opportunities remain limited to this day.

However, UNIFE fears that the outcome on coverage of rail and urban transport entities in the public procurement chapter may be limited. Further coverage would have compensated the delisting of several Japanese rail operators from the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA). It is now key to ensure that private or non-covered entities abide by codes of conduct to ensure transparent and non-discriminatory treatment of European rail suppliers.

Finally, the European rail supply industry is also concerned about the enforcement of the commitments made by Japan and the actual changes in business practices. UNIFE calls on both parties to set up a strong and dedicated method to monitor rail procurement.

Philippe Citroën, Director General of UNIFE, commented, ‘Since the beginning of the EU-Japan Free Trade Agreement negotiations in 2013, the European rail supply industry has been striving, with the support of the European Commission, to achieve a level-playing field between access to the Japanese and European rail markets. The removal of the Operational Safety Clause is a win for our industry, but it also comes with a further opening of the EU public procurement market. Today’s agreement is only a first step – enforcement and monitoring of agreed measures will be equally important. Therefore, we urge both parties to redouble their efforts to guarantee new and tangible market access opportunities for European manufacturers on the Japanese rail market.’


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“Berlin Declaration” – Ministerial Conference of the Friends of Industry

Dear Members,

 

Please find attached the “Berlin Declaration” signed today by 18 Member States (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Spain) on the occasion of the 5th Ministerial Conference of the Friends of Industry. You will also see below the Press Release published by the German State Secretary for Industry Matthias Machnig.

 

The Ministers of Economy and/or Industry of these 18 Member States interestingly state that “it is essential to prepare an adequate answer of the EU to the industrial strategies of third countries, based on the principle of mutually beneficial trade and investment and rules based trade with our partners at both multilateral and bilateral level, whilst ensuring that a level playing field is maintained and strengthened. It is vital to address challenges that are raised by competitive foreign industries which are supported through tools that are not in accordance with their obligations under international law or the applicable principles of the EU internal market including EU competition law and find an appropriate and balanced response”.

 

They also declare: “in the field of public procurement and foreign investment, where the EU shows a significant higher level of openness compared to other countries, we need to deepen and take forward the debate on how to enhance reciprocity as we strive for openness of market access to safeguard a level playing field”.

 

To better achieve these goals, the 18 Ministers “reiterate the necessity for the European Commission to draw up a new industrial policy strategy” and insist once again “for an extensive industrial policy strategy to be presented in time for the spring meeting of the European Council in 2018”.

 

In this sense, this Berlin Declaration can be seen as another important step forward in the framework of the major advocacy campaign initiated last February by UNIFE with the Joint Declaration for an ambitious EU industrial strategy co-signed by 127 other European Associations.

 

Berlin Declaration_Friends of Industry_30 June 2017


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Single European Railway Area (SERA)

Dear AIF/UNIFE Members,

Following the adoption of the Technical Pillar of the 4th Railway Package in June 2016, the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) is organising a series of regional debates on the Single European Railway Area (SERA), where stakeholders can voice their opinions and questions and get a clear idea of the benefits of the new process which will have to be operational by 2019.
The target audience includes European Institutions, ERA, national and regional decision makers, national safety authorities, sector representatives and associations, notified bodies, designated bodies and assessment bodies.

Please find below the list of regional conferences being organised by the European Union Agency for Railways, with the respective target countries:

  • East Mediterranean: 26 April 2017, Budapest
    SI, HR, HU, SK, RO, BG, EL, CY
  • Baltic Scandinavian: 10 May 2017, Helsinki
    DK, SE, FI, EE, LV, LT, (NO)
  • West Mediterranean: 23 May 2017, Valletta
    FR, IT, ES, PT, MT
  • Central: 7 June 2017, Berlin
    DE, AT, PL, CZ, (CH)
  • North Sea: 14 June 2017, Amsterdam
    UK, IE, NL, BE, LU
  • SERA Convention: 20 June 2017, Brussels

The UNIFE Standards and Regulation Group (SRG) has already received this information. In the coming weeks, UNIFE will forward you the invitations to each conference.
For further information, please contact Leonardo Dongiovanni or Nicolas Furio.