Cross-border infrastructure linking the Union and the United Kingdom through the Channel Fixed Link

The European Parliament adopted by 687 votes to 1, with 7 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2020/2222 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to the cross-border infrastructure linking the Union and the United Kingdom through the Channel Fixed Link.

The European Parliament adopted its position at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure taking over the Commission's proposal.

In order to ensure connectivity between the EU and the United Kingdom after the end of the transition period referred to in Article 126 of the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, as well as the continuity of the operations of the railway undertakings established and licensed in the United Kingdom which operate through the Channel Fixed Link, Regulation (EU) 2020/2222 has extended until 30 September 2021 the period of validity of the licences issued by the United Kingdom to railway undertakings established in its territory, as well as that of the safety certificates issued to those undertakings by the Intergovernmental Commission set up under the Treaty of Canterbury concerning the construction and operation by private concessionaires of a Channel fixed link.

The proposed regulation extends the period of validity of these certificates and licences until 31 March 2022 by amending regulation (EU) 2020/2222.