Development of the Community's railways

PREVIOUS COMMUNITY LEGISLATION: Commission Decision 93/45/EEC of 22.12.1992 concerning the granting of financial support for pilot schemes to promote combined transport; this is the PACT Programme (Pilot Actions of Combined Transports), which covers measures to improve the organization and operation of combined transport services and to integrate operators into the entire logistic chain, excluding financing of infrastructure and research. Each projects is managed by a pilot scheme committee, within which all the partners in project must reach a working agreement and learn to cooperate effectively, under the discreet supervision of the Commission, which confines itself to monitoring compliance with the rules on competition and the budgetary rules for the measures it finances. Any public or private undertaking may submit a PACT directly to the Commission, which considers the application and helps the undertaking to build the project and to find partners if necessary. Financing must have the agreement of the Member States concerned. PREVIOUS POSITION OF EP: under the consultation procedure, Parliament gave a favourable opinion on the proposal for the decision. SITUATION IN THE MEMBER STATES: several projects have been launched involving 11 of the former Community of Twelve (only Luxembourg is not represented), creating a network of routes crossing the Community in every direction, with the possibility of development towards the new Member States.