Date: 2022-06-17Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Council Decision (EU) 2022/936 of 13 June 2022 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union at the 14th meeting of the Committee of Technical Experts of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF) as regards the modification of the uniform technical prescriptions concerning telematics applications for freight and the revision of Annex B to the ATMF Uniform Rules on derogations, and in the written procedure of the Revision Committee of OTIF as regards the modification of the ATMF Uniform Rules
**Executive Summary:**
This Council Decision outlines the EU's position regarding modifications to the Uniform Technical Prescriptions (UTP) concerning telematics applications for freight (TAF) and the revision of Annex B to the ATMF Uniform Rules on derogations, as well as modifications to the ATMF Uniform Rules. The decision mandates the EU's support for these changes at the 14th meeting of the Committee of Technical Experts (CTE) of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF) on June 14-15, 2022, and in the written procedure of the Revision Committee of OTIF. This decision enters into force on the date of its adoption, June 13, 2022.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **EU Position at OTIF Committee of Technical Experts (CTE) Meeting:**
* The EU will vote in favor of updating the UTP TAF (CTE working document TECH22004CTE14).
* The EU will vote in favor of updating Annex B to the ATMF Uniform Rules concerning derogations (CTE working document TECH22005CTE14).
* **EU Position in OTIF Revision Committee Written Procedure:**
* The EU will vote in favor of amending Article 3a 5 and Article 15 2 of the ATMF Uniform Rules (CTE working document TECH22019CTE147).
* **Publication and Enforcement:**
* The decisions of the CTE and Revision Committee will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union, including their entry into force dates.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **European Union:**
* *Impact:* The decisions made by OTIF will be binding on the Union, aligning OTIF legislation with EU law and strategic objectives for rail interoperability and safety.
* *Action Required:* To support the proposed changes in the CTE and Revision Committee meetings/procedures.
* **Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF):**
* *Impact:* OTIF's UTP TAF and ATMF Uniform Rules will be updated and aligned with EU regulations, specifically Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/541 and Directives (EU) 2016/797 and 2016/798.
* *Action Required:* To implement the modifications to the UTP TAF and ATMF Uniform Rules as agreed upon in the CTE and Revision Committee.
* **Rail Operators and Manufacturers:**
* *Impact:* Rail operators and manufacturers will need to comply with the updated UTP TAF and ATMF Uniform Rules to ensure interoperability and adherence to technical standards within the international rail system.
* *Action Required:* To adapt their systems and equipment to meet the requirements of the revised UTP TAF and ATMF Uniform Rules.
Key Entities Referenced
European Union: A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe.
Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail: An international organisation dealing with international carriage by rail (OTIF).
Committee of Technical Experts: A committee of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF) responsible for technical matters.
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: One of the primary treaties of the European Union.
Commission Implementing Regulation EU 2021/541: A regulation by the European Commission amending Regulation EU No 1305/2014 regarding data calculation and exchange.
Directive EU 2016/797: A directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the interoperability of the rail system within the European Union.
Directive EU 2016/798: A directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on railway safety.
Revision Committee: A committee set up in accordance with Article 13 1, point c, of COTIF
17.6.2022 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 162/35
COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2022/936
of 13 June 2022
on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union at the 14th meeting of the Committee of
Technical Experts of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF) as
regards the modification of the uniform technical prescriptions concerning telematics applications
for freight and the revision of Annex B to the ATMF Uniform Rules on derogations, and in the
written procedure of the Revision Committee of OTIF as regards the modification of the ATMF
Uniform Rules
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 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(1).
(2) Pursuant to Article 13 § 1, point (f), of the COTIF, the Committee of Technical Experts (‘CTE’) of the OTIF was set up.
(3) Pursuant to Article 20 § 1, point (b), of COTIF, and in accordance with Article 6 of Appendix F to COTIF on the
Uniform Rules concerning the Validation of Technical Standards and the Adoption of Uniform Technical
Prescriptions applicable to Railway Material intended to be used in International Traffic, the CTE is competent to
adopt or to amend, inter alia, the Uniform Technical Prescriptions (‘UTP’) concerning telematics applications for
freight (‘UTP TAF’).
(4) In accordance with Article 20 § 1, point (e), of COTIF and Articles 7a and 21 of Appendix G to COTIF on the
Uniform Rules concerning the Technical Admission of Railway Material used in International Traffic (‘the ATMF
Uniform Rules’), the CTE is competent to adopt or to amend Annex B to the ATMF Uniform Rules concerning
derogations from the application of UTP.
(5) The CTE has included in the agenda for its 14th session, which will take place on 14and 15 June 2022, a proposal
for decisions to amend the UTP TAF and the revision of the Annex B to the ATMF Uniform Rules concerning
derogations from the application of UTP.
(6) The objectives of the envisaged CTE decisions are to align the UTP TAF with Commission Implementing Regulation
(EU) 2021/541(2)and to align Annex B to the ATMF Uniform Rules to Directive (EU) 2016/797 of the European
Parliament and of the Council(3).
(1) OJ L 51, 23.2.2013, p. 8.
(2) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/541 of 26 March 2021 amending Regulation (EU) No 1305/2014 as regard the
simplification and improvement of data calculation and exchange and the update of the Change Control Management process (OJ
L 108, 29.3.2021, p. 19).
(3) Directive (EU) 2016/797 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2016 on the interoperability of the rail system
within the European Union (OJ L 138, 26.5.2016, p. 44).L 162/36 EN Official Journal of the European Union 17.6.2022
(7) The Revision Committee set up in accordance with Article 13 § 1, point (c), of COTIF (‘the Revision Committee’) is
expected to carry out a written procedure to decide upon the amendment of Article 3a § 5 and Article 15 § 2 of the
ATMF Uniform Rules.
(8) The objective of the envisaged Revision Committee decision is to align the ATMF Uniform Rules with Directive (EU)
2016/798 of the European Parliament and of the Council(4).
(9) It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf in the CTE and, as regards the revision of
the ATMF Uniform Rules, in the Revision Committee, as the proposed decisions will be binding on the Union.
(10) The envisaged OTIF decisions are in line with the law and the strategic objectives of the Union, as they contribute to
the alignment of OTIF legislation with the equivalent provisions of Union law, and should therefore be supported by
the Union,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The position to be taken on the Union’s behalf at the 14th session of the CTE of OTIF as regards the modification of the UTP
TAF and the revision of Annex B to the ATMF Uniform Rules with regard to derogations from the application of UTP shall
be as follows:
(1) to vote in favour of the CTE proposal to update the UTP TAF (CTE working document TECH-22004-CTE14);
(2) to vote in favour of the CTE proposal to update Annex B to the ATMF Uniform Rules concerning derogations from the
application of UTP (CTE working document TECH-22005-CTE14).
Article 2
The position to be taken on the Union’s behalf in the written procedure of the Revision Committee as regards the partial
revision of the ATMF Uniform Rules shall be to vote in favour of the CTE proposal to amend Article 3a § 5 and Article 15
§ 2 of the ATMF Uniform Rules (CTE working document TECH-22019-CTE14-7).
Article 3
Once adopted, the decisions of the CTE and of the Revision Committee shall be published in the Official Journal of the
European Union, indicating the date of their entry into force.
Article 4
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
Done at Luxembourg, 13 June 2022.
For the Council
The President
M. FESNEAU
(4) Directive (EU) 2016/798 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2016 on railway safety (OJ L 138, 26.5.2016,
p. 102).