Date: 2020-05-15Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Council Decision (EU) 2020/649 of 7 May 2020 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union during the 56th session of the Committee of Experts for the Carriage of Dangerous Goods of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail as regards certain amendments to Appendix C to the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail
Executive Summary:
This Council Decision (EU) 2020/649 establishes the European Union's position regarding amendments to Appendix C of the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF). It concerns the 56th session of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF) Committee of Experts for the Carriage of Dangerous Goods, which occurred on May 27, 2020. The decision allows for minor changes to documents without further Council approval and mandates the publication of the RID Expert Committee's decisions in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Purpose:**
* Defines the EU's position on amendments to the Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID), which form Appendix C to COTIF.
* Addresses amendments to be adopted during the 56th session of the RID Expert Committee.
* **Context:**
* The EU acceded to COTIF via Council Decision 2013/103/EU.
* Most EU Member States are parties to COTIF.
* Directive 2008/68/EC lays down requirements for the transport of dangerous goods by road, rail, or inland waterway within or between Member States based on the RID.
* The RID Expert Committee can amend the Annex to the RID according to COTIF Article 13(1)(d) and Article 33(5).
* **Amendments:**
* Amendments adapt the Annex to the RID to scientific and technical progress.
* Amendments aim to ensure the safe and efficient transport of dangerous goods.
* The EU supports the amendments as appropriate for safe and cost-effective transport.
* **EU Position:**
* The EU's position during the 56th session is outlined in document ST 7049/20.
* EU representatives in the RID Expert Committee can agree to minor changes without further Council decisions.
* **Publication and Enforcement:**
* Decisions of the RID Expert Committee will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union, including the date of entry into force.
* The Decision entered into force on May 7, 2020.
Impact Analysis:
* **European Union:**
* Impact: The amendments to the RID will be binding on the Union.
* Action Required: Implement the adopted amendments to ensure safe and efficient transport of dangerous goods by rail.
* **EU Member States (excluding Cyprus and Malta):**
* Impact: As parties to COTIF, these Member States are directly affected by the amendments to the RID.
* Action Required: Implement the adopted amendments into their national regulations.
* **Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF):**
* Impact: The decision provides the EU's position on the amendments to the RID, influencing the outcome of the 56th session of the RID Expert Committee.
* Action Required: Consider the EU's position during the amendment process and publish the adopted amendments.
* **Carriage of Dangerous Goods Industry:**
* Impact: The amendments affect the technical standards for the safe and efficient transport of dangerous goods by rail.
* Action Required: Adapt operational procedures to comply with the new standards.
Key Entities Referenced
European Union: A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe, party to the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail.
Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail: An international agreement (COTIF) governing international rail traffic, including the Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID).
Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail: An international organization (OTIF) responsible for the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF) and its appendices, including the Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID).
Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail: Regulations (RID), forming Appendix C to the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF), governing the international carriage of dangerous goods by rail.
RID Expert Committee: The Committee of Experts for the Carriage of Dangerous Goods of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF), responsible for amending the annex to the Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID).
Council Decision 2013/103/EU: Council Decision on the signing and conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union and the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail on the Accession of the European Union to the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail
Directive 2008/68/EC: Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the inland transport of dangerous goods.
Brussels: The city in Belgium where the Council Decision was adopted.
15.5.2020 E N O f f i c i a l J o u r n a l o f t h e E u r o p e a n Union L 153/1
II
(Non-legislative acts)
DECISIONS
COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/649
of 7 May 2020
on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union during the 56th session of the
Committee of Experts for the Carriage of Dangerous Goods of the Intergovernmental Organisation
for International Carriage by Rail as regards certain amendments to Appendix C to the Convention
concerning International Carriage by Rail
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 91 in conjunction with
Article 218(9) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1) The Union acceded to the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail of 9 May 1980 as amended by the
Vilnius Protocol of 3 June 1999 (‘COTIF’) by means of Council Decision 2013/103/EU(1).
(2) All Member States, with the exception of Cyprus and Malta, are Parties to COTIF.
(3) Article 6 COTIF states that international rail traffic and admission of railway material in international traffic are to be
governed by rules listed in that Article, in particular the Regulations concerning the International Carriage of
Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID), which form Appendix C to COTIF.
(4) Directive 2008/68/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council(2) lays down requirements for the transport of
dangerous goods by road, by rail or by inland waterway within or between Member States on the basis of the RID.
(5) Pursuant to letter (d) of Article 13 § 1 and Article 33 § 5 COTIF, the Intergovernmental Organisation for
International Carriage by Rail (OTIF) Committee of Experts for the Carriage of Dangerous Goods (‘RID Expert
Committee’) can amend the Annex to the RID.
(6) The RID Expert Committee, during its 56th session on 27 May 2020, is to adopt amendments to adapt the Annex to
the RID to scientific and technical progress.
(7) The envisaged amendments concern technical standards and aim at ensuring safe and efficient transport of
dangerous goods while taking into account scientific and technical progress in the sector and the development of
new substances and articles that could pose a danger while being transported.
(1) Council Decision 2013/103/EU of 16 June 2011 on the signing and conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union and
the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail on the Accession of the European Union to the Convention
concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF) of 9 May 1980, as amended by the Vilnius Protocol of 3 June 1999 (OJ L 51,
23.2.2013, p. 1).
(2) Directive 2008/68/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 September 2008 on the inland transport of dangerous
goods (OJ L 260, 30.9.2008, p. 13).L 153/2 E N O f f i c i a l J o u r n a l o f t h e E u r o p e a n Union 15.5.2020
(8) The envisaged amendments are considered to be appropriate for the safe transport of dangerous goods in a cost-
effective manner and can therefore be supported.
(9) It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf in the RID Expert Committee, as the
amendments to the RID will be binding on the Union,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The position to be taken on the Union’s behalf during the 56th session of the Intergovernmental Organisation for
International Carriage by Rail Committee of Experts for the Carriage of Dangerous Goods in the framework of the
Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail of 9 May 1980, as amended by the Vilnius Protocol of 3 June 1999,
shall be as set out in the table of amendments in document ST 7049/20(3).
Minor changes to the documents referred to in that table of amendments may be agreed to by the representatives of the
Union in the RID Expert Committee without a further decision of the Council.
Article 2
The decisions of the RID Expert Committee, once adopted, shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union,
indicating the date of their entry into force.
Article 3
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
Done at Brussels, 7 May 2020.
For the Council
The President
G. GRLIĆ RADMAN
(3) The document ST 7049/20 can be found at http://register.consilium.europa.eu