1. 1 Prague – 12 th March 2009 Jean Charles PICHANT – Head of Interoperability Unit European Railway Agency

2. Prague, 12 March 2009Interoperability of railway infrastructure222 1.What is the duty of the Agency ? 2.How does the Agency work ? 3.Staff & organisation of the Agency 4.Localisation and accessibility of the Agency

3. Prague, 12 March 2009Interoperability of railway infrastructure3 The first proposal for establishment of the European Railway Agency was made in the framework of the Second Railway Package, Regulation (EC) No 881/2004 establishing the European Railway Agency was adopted. Art 1: The Agency has the mission of reinforcing safety and interoperability of railways throughout Europe. This involves the development and implementation of Technical Specifications for Interoperability, and a common approach to questions concerning railway safety, according to the Safety Directive (2004/49) and Interoperability Directives (96/48 and 2001/16, both amended by 2004/50). 1 - What is the duty of the Agency

4. Prague, 12 March 2009Interoperability of railway infrastructure4 In the domain of Safety tOn the basis of Safety Directive develop Common Safety Methods (CSM), Common Safety Targets (CST) and Common Safety Indicators (CSI) tHarmonise issuing and assessment procedures of Safety Certificates and Safety Authorisations tFacilitate cooperation among National Safety Authorities tFacilitate cooperation among National Investigating Bodies 1 - What is the duty of the Agency

5. Prague, 12 March 2009Interoperability of railway infrastructure5 In the domain of Interoperability tDraft and/or revise Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI) tDraft recommendations for the determination of criteria for vocational competences and the assessment of the staff involved in operation and maintenance (priority: drivers & their trainers) tDevelop a European certification system for maintenance workshops tPropose format/content for registers : national vehicle register NVR, European type register of rolling stocks tOrganise and Facilitate the cooperation of Notified Bodies NoBos 1 - How does the Agency work

6. Prague, 12 March 2009Interoperability of railway infrastructure666 1.What is the duty of the Agency ? 2.How does the Agency work ? 3.Staff & organisation of the Agency 4.Localisation and accessibility of the Agency

7. The Administrative Board:  1 representative per Member State  4 Commission representatives  6 representatives of sector organisations (railway undertakings, infrastructure managers, railway industry, trade unions, passengers, freight customers) – no voting rights  Norway and Iceland – no voting rights The working principles:  Budgetary and financial control with regular evaluation of all work  Transparency and public access to documents  Neutrality and impartiality 2 - How does the Agency work The Agency is controlled by an Administrative Board and has some binding principles for its work Prague, 12 March 20097Interoperability of railway infrastructure

8. 2 - How does the Agency work Establishment Plan Budget Directives Interoperability / Safety Agency Regulation Annual work programme Commission Administrative Board Budgetary authority Mandates from RISCommittee Prague, 12 March 20098Interoperability of railway infrastructure

9. Sector organisations acting at European level*: UNIFE, CER, EIM, UITP, UIP, UIRR, ERFA, ETF, ALE National Safety Authorities’ experts * List established by Article 21 Committee on 22 February 2005 experts Commission Social Partners Passengers / customers Decision Opinion of RISCommittee Working Party ……………. recommendations Prague, 12 March 20099Interoperability of railway infrastructure 2 - How does the Agency work

10. Prague, 12 March 2009Interoperability of railway infrastructure10 1.What is the duty of the Agency ? 2.How does the Agency work ? 3.Staff & organisation of the Agency 4.Localisation and accessibility of the Agency

11. Prague, 12 March 2009 3 - Staff & organisation of the Agency Executive Director Safety Unit Interoperability Unit X acceptance Unit ERTMS Unit Economic Evaluation Unit Administrative Unit 1/03/2009: 116 people from 19 nationalities Interoperability of railway infrastructure11

12. Prague, 12 March 2009Interoperability of railway infrastructure12 1.What is the duty of the Agency ? 2.How does the Agency work ? 3.Staff & organisation of the Agency 4.Localisation and accessibility of the Agency

13. Prague, 12 March 2009 4 - Localisation and Accessibility Premises: Offices in Valenciennes European Railway Agency 160, Boulevard Harpignies BP 20932 F – 59307 Valenciennes CEDEX International meeting facilities in Lille European Railway Agency Espace International Lille 299, Boulevard de Leeds F – 59777 EURALILLE (just opposite of the station Lille Europe) Interoperability of railway infrastructure13

14. Prague, 12 March 2009 More Information ? Web page: u http://www.era.europa.eu (job offers are accessible here) Email addresses: u firstname.lastname@era.europa.eu Telephone: + 33 (0)3 27 09 65 00 Fax: + 33 (0)3 27 33 40 65 Interoperability of railway infrastructure14

15. Prague, 12 March 2009Interoperability of railway infrastructure15 Thank you for your attention!