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Railways and the rail supply industry pledge to step up cooperation to further interoperability and strengthen rail research in Europe
Memorandum of Understanding signed in Paris by the Chairmen of UIC, CER and UNIFE Paris, 30 June 2000 Cooperation between railway companies and railway suppliers is increasing rapidly and proof of its efficiency has been furnished in the shape of the Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI) of the trans-European high speed network, produced in line with European Union Directive 96/48, which have been handed over to the European Commission representative. The TSIs, the purpose of which is to pave the way for truly frontier-free railway services across Europe, were drawn up by the AEIF (European Association for Railway Interoperability), which was mandated by the European Union and its member states as a joint representative body as defined in Directive 96/48. Recognising the vital need for railways and industry to adopt a common approach on all aspects of interoperability and research, the Chairmen of UIC*, Miguel Corsini, CER*, Louis Gallois, and UNIFE*, Rolf Eckrodt, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 30 June at the annual UNIFE conference in Paris. In a determined drive to boost technical harmonisation and interoperability in Europe, the MoU signatories propose that a permanent professional structure be set up within the AEIF, capable of fulfilling the tasks which may be entrusted to it by the European Commission as part of preparations for the planned directive on the interoperability of the conventional railway system (in particular drafting the TSIs required by this new directive), and that the AEIF take part in all joint UIC/CER/UNIFE research activities on railway interoperability. With a view to strengthening existing research synergies, UIC, CER and UNIFE have remitted a working group to craft a "Common Rail Research Strategy" designed to take better account of all needs in the sector. UIC and UNIFE also support, in principle, the construction and operation of a climate test facility in Vienna, which would be recognised as the European climate testing installation. Moreover, UIC, CER and UNIFE accept the need to harmonise the rules and procedures pertaining to tendering for contracts signed between the railways and European suppliers with a view to expanding markets by increasing their transparency and sharpening the competitiveness of the rail sector as a whole. Finally, the three railway associations would like to play an active part in drawing up European legislation and regulations affecting the rail sector. * UIC - International Union of Railways
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