On 7 November, the European Commission adopted the Staff Working Document on the evaluation of the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA).
The evaluation concludes that ERA is relevant for the current and future needs of the European railway sector to improve safety and to achieve interoperability and a harmonised single rail market.
While highlighting the progress made in improving safety, interoperability, and the development of the Single European Rail Area, the evaluation brings clarity on the challenges faced by the Agency, particularly the resource constraints that have hindered the full realisation of its objectives under the 4th Railway Package.
The 4th Railway Package was adopted with the aim to create a more efficient, interoperable, and safe railway system across Europe. Yet, the evaluation has shown that the resources allocated to the Agency have not kept pace with its growing mandate. This has placed significant strain on its ability to manage authorisation tasks while delivering its critical policy responsibilities.
Another key finding of the evaluation is the need to optimise processes for vehicle authorisation and safety certification. These processes are the backbone of the Agency’s work, and they are essential for ensuring that our railways are not only safe but also interoperable. However, the evaluation has shown that these processes can be complex and, at times, burdensome. This has created challenges for applicants and has limited the broader cost savings that were anticipated under the 4th Railway Package.
The European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) is the key to achieving seamless cross-border rail operations and to driving the digitalisation and modernisation of our railways. Yet, as the evaluation has shown, progress in this area has been slower than expected. The challenges are significant, from the complexity of coordination among Member States to the technical hurdles of implementation.
The stakeholders recognised the importance of the Agency’s policy work, from developing common technical and safety standards to removing redundant national rules and consider these tasks essential for creating a harmonised European railway system.
Finally, the evaluation showed that, while national-level actions are undoubtedly important, they cannot replace the benefits of EU-level action. The Agency’s work has brought greater effectiveness and efficiency, and it has been instrumental in advancing interoperability and harmonised operations across the European railway system.
Next steps
The Commission, in the context of its Communication “Connecting Europe through High-Speed Rail“, announced that by 2026, it will propose a revised ERA Regulation to strengthen safety, digitalisation and cost-efficiency. This revision will be based on the results of the ERA evaluation.
Background
Pursuant to Article 82(1) of the Regulation (EU) 2016/796, the Commission evaluated the impact, effectiveness and efficiency of the Agency and its working practices and address any identified need to modify ERA’s mandate. Furthermore, the evaluation covers the functioning of (1) the dual system for vehicle authorisation and single safety certification, (2) the one-stop shop (OSS), a digital application managed by the Agency to facilitate the rail sector’s and the rail supply industry’s applications to ERA or national safety authorities (NSAs), and (3) the harmonised implementation of ERTMS in the Union.
