Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-01-14-Speech-2-013"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2003-01-14"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Community railways2
dcterms:Language	"nl"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20030114.1.2-013"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2003-01-14-Speech-2-0142
lpv:speaker	lp:Erik Meijer2
lpv:spokenAs	member; Committee on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3 unknown; Socialistische Partij (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 member_of_the_bureau; EUL/NGL (1999-10-13--2004-07-19)3 member; Delegation to the EU-Slovak Republic Joint Parliamentary Committee (2002-02-07--2004-04-30)3 substitute; Delegation to the EU-Czech Republic Joint Parliamentary Committee (2002-02-07--2004-04-30)3 substitute; Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3
lpv:translated text	"These days people and goods are travelling ever longer distances. Much too much of this travelling is taking place on the motorway or by air. Travelling by rail is more environmentally friendly, but most of our railway networks date back to an era when we stayed within our own state boundaries much more than we do now. Virtually everyone now agrees on the need for modernisation with trains that can travel on the other side of the border with the same carriages, the same crew, the same voltage and the same safety requirements. This can be achieved quickly by improving cooperation between national railway companies or by merging large-scale and cross-border activities into one single European operation. Regrettably this increase in scale is now being misused to force all the Member States of the European Union to allow other companies with private capital to access the railway network. Liberalisation means that we will only be able to travel where entrepreneurs can expect to make a profit. The additional costs for planning, supervision, safety and infrastructure are being paid by the government, in other words the taxpayer, and the financial benefits go to international companies. This compulsion to liberalise will make it more difficult to guarantee continuity and safety. Despite the European unity that has been achieved, there is currently less cross-border rail traffic in many places than there was in the time before the EU was created. International night trains are being cancelled, long-distance connections are being severed, railway timetables for ‘abroad’ are no longer being issued, boarding bans are being introduced and there will be no railway facilities for the rapid transportation of perishable goods. Even before the compromise of the end of 2000 concerning corridors for goods transportation by other companies comes into effect, attempts are already being made to push through even more far-reaching liberalisation with the aim of putting international goods traffic first, then domestic goods traffic, then international passenger traffic and finally all traffic in the hands of companies that have fewer obligations to society as a whole. In the Netherlands, which wanted to take the lead, liberalisation has resulted in a significant reduction in the quality of train services. Part of the package of four reports that have just been presented will have a detrimental effect on the railway company’s duty of service. If we do not accept that part, the future will look a great deal better."@en1

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