Changes from report parliamentary committee draft to plenary report

Change 1

Changed1. Grants the Executive Director of the European Union Agency for Railways discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency’s budget for the financial year 2022 / Postpones its decision on granting the Executive Director of the European Union Agency for Railways discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency’s budget for the financial year 2022;

Change 2 under “2. PROPOSAL FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DECISION”

Changed1. Approves the closure of the accounts of the European Union Agency for Railways for the financial year 2022 / Postpones the closure of the accounts of the European Union Agency for Railways for the financial year 2022;

Change 3 under “3. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Changed1. Notes with appreciation that the budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2022 resulted in a budget implementation rate of current year appropriations of 99,95 %, representing a slight increase of 0,13 % compared to 2021; further notes that the current year payment appropriations execution rate was 94,97 %, representing an increase of 1,43 % compared to 2021; notes that the budget outturn in 2022 was EUR 81 821, up from EUR 69 638 in 2021;

Change 4 under “3. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Added6. Recalls that the Agency has the smallest budget among the transport agencies despite the outstanding environmental benefits of rail prioritized by Commission; commends the rise in the fiscal year 2022 budget, accompanied by various efforts to enhance competitiveness, improve safety, and promote cross-border interoperability; nevertheless, calls for a budget increase to ensure the Agency has essential resources to function as an efficient authority and effectively fulfil its tasks;

Change 5 under “3. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Removed8. Welcomes the Agency’s continued contribution within the field of national rules with the cleaning up in 2022 of the remaining national technical rules (for Czechia and the Netherlands) constituting obstacles to smooth rail operations;

Added9. Stresses the importance of continuing support all initiatives for a better common understanding of Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSIs) contributing to the development of a strong and competitive European rail industry; insists for more support for innovation in rail freight and intermodal transport services to achieve competitive integration into the logistic value chain, with automation and digitalisation of freight rail;

Added10. Welcomes the report on EU Railway safety and interoperability; acknowledges the continuous commitment to the objective of the Agency to creating a Single European Railway Area and its sustained work in key areas such as reducing national rules and ensuring the maturity of technical specifications for interoperability; notes that such an important work will support the strengthening of rail interoperability across Europe, in line with the Commission policy expectations; welcomes the Agency’s continued contribution within the field of national rules with the cleaning up in 2022 of the remaining national technical rules (for Czechia and the Netherlands) constituting obstacles to smooth rail operations;

Added11. Commends the Agency’s proactive response to the recommendations put forth in the previous year's observation, urging the Agency to introduce effective checks for verifying SME status of applicants; welcomes the implementation of enhanced controls for verifying the SMEs status for Single Safety Certificates and Vehicle Authorizations applications; remarks that the Agency has driven several initiatives aimed at boosting rail traffic (both passenger and freight), including measures to coordinate international rail traffic and the development of new technologies, such as train automation, contributing to the cohesion, boosting EU economy and green and digital transition; welcomes that the Railway Package Steering Group successfully continued its activities evaluating the Agency’s preparedness for the 4th Railway Package;

Added12. Stresses that the illegal and unjustified Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has showcased the crucial role railways can play; notes that since the invasion of the Ukraine, railways have been a significant asset for the movement of people and goods, especially with the closure of Ukraine’s airspace for civil aviation; points out that Ukrainian railways have transported soldiers, essential workers, residents, as well as numerous vital goods such as agricultural goods; acknowledges that the Agency contributed to EU cooperation with Ukraine on resilience and development of rail links, it supported Ukraine and the people around the world by finding additional ways to increase the volume of transport of Ukrainian food products by rail;

Change 6 under “3. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Changed13.17. Acknowledges that the Agency has achieved a very high degree of digitalisation,digitalisation to increase its efficiency, eliminating paper-processes and bringing forward online solutions such as e-procurement, e-invoicing, electronic travel booking, including through the roll out in 2022 of the HR management system (SYSPER) of the Commission and the migration, in pilot phase, to the new budgetary, accounting and financial system, SUMMA; welcomes that the Agency’s SPD 2023-2025 foresees to further digitise its workflows;

Change 7 under “3. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Changed14.18. Observes from the Agency's Opinion with regard to the follow-up measures taken in light of the discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Agency's for the financial year 2021 (hereinafter The ‘Agency's Opinion’) that the Agency has implemented several measures to reduce the cost of operations in Lille (i.e. missions and travel expenses for staff and external stakeholders have been significantly reduced) and has ended the current lease contract for Lille premises; notes that the intention of the Agency is to organise only the mandatory meetings in Lille in order to comply with the European Council decision on the double seat ‘Lille-Valenciennes’; welcomes that the Agency has approved its HR strategy (2023-2027) in 2022 based on the Parliament’s observation, with a focus on improving its effectiveness and efficiency; notes in this regard the positive experience and development within the Agency with regard to the use of the teleworking regime during after the COVID 19 pandemic, leading the Agency to conclude that the new normal is that teleworking is accepted as being equal as working at the office for most of the staff, while physical presence remains key for some specific jobs;

Change 8 under “3. MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION”

Changed16.20. Notes with concern the lack of gender balance within the Agency’s senior management, with 8 out of 10 (80 %) being men; notes the gender distribution within the Agency’s management board (MB), with 34 out of 64 (53 %) being men; further notes the gender distribution within the Agency’s overall staff, with 120 out of 188 (64 %) being men; recalls the importance to ensure gender balance and calls on the Agency to take this aspect into consideration with regard to future recruitments of staff and appointments within its senior management; notes the Agency’s continuous work towards closing the gender gap, with specific projects such as “Women in transport” to strengthen women’s employment and equal opportunities in the transport sector; notes in this context the Agency’s endeavours to increase the number of women in the transport sector through deliverables such as speed networking events and webinars focusing on diversity and inclusion in 2022;