On 24 June 2022, the Joint Committee on Land Transport acknowledged the importance of harmonised rules for Switzerland-EU land transport. We think: More is needed for sustainable interoperability. What is needed now is a coordinated transport policy.
In 1999, Switzerland concluded a land transport agreement with the European Union (EU). This guarantees mutual market access for transporters from both sides of the Swiss border. The regulations for cross-border goods transport by rail and road have been harmonised.
Switzerland partially left out
With the NRLA, Switzerland expanded the European rail corridor into a flat railway and successfully implemented its modal shift policy with the Distance-related Heavy Vehicle Fee (HVF) and a ban on cabotage, night and Sunday driving. The modal split in transalpine transit traffic is over 70% in favour of rail, which is considered an international benchmark. However, this pleasing performance record should not hide the fact that, compared to member states, Switzerland does not currently have full market access. The Swiss railway network is not yet an integrated part of the European Interop network.
Sticking to the Agreement on Land Transport
At its half-year meeting on 24 June 2022, the Joint Committee on Land Transport emphasised the importance of the agreement. However, unresolved political differences between Switzerland and the EU are blocking its further development. Such further development is urgently needed within the framework of the technical pillar of the 4th EU Railway Package.
Since 2019, Switzerland’s cooperation with the European Railway Agency (ERA) has been governed by a temporary transitional solution. The Joint Committee discussed a further extension of this transitional solution. This would facilitate Switzerland’s procedural involvement in simplified authorisations for cross-border traffic as well as its technical participation in innovation projects for the digitalisation and automation of the railways.
Federal Council in demand
We at the VAP are convinced that Swiss rail freight transport must expand its market access and not miss the boat on European innovation. With this credo, Josef Dittli, member of the Council of States, submitted interpellation 22.3566 on 9 June 2022. He is asking the Federal Council to answer the following questions:
- How does the Federal Council intend to ensure the necessary continuation of the rail packages within the framework of the EU-CH land transport agreement?
- How does the Federal Council intend to achieve the implementation of the technical pillar of the 4th EU railway package in Switzerland and secure free cross-border rail traffic in the long term?
- How does the Federal Council intend to achieve Switzerland’s early full membership in the European Railway Agency ERA?
- How does the Federal Council intend to secure and complete the Swiss seat in the EU RISC as an important management and decision-making body?
Ensure full interoperability
For the economy in general and for our members in particular, it is crucial that previous achievements are secured in the long term. We consider it absolutely necessary that Switzerland is represented as an equal partner in central European bodies as soon as possible and that transport policy in cross-border transport is coordinated.
