The European Commission (EC) sent letters to 24 European Union member states, among them Bulgaria, urging them to start implementing properly the legislation of the first railway package, the press service of the EC said in a statement on June 26 2008.

Save for Bulgaria, the Commission came across failure or improper implementation of the legislation in Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia and the United Kingdom.

The creation of an integrated railway market will be a key factor in boosting its efficiency and competitiveness, as well as a further step in ensuring sustainable mobility in Europe, the statement said, quoting EC vice-president in charge of transport Antonio Tajani as saying: “Proper transposition of the first railway package is essential for creating competition in the European railway markets and increasing the competitiveness of railways in relation to other modes of transport.”

In May 2006, the EC ascertained that, although Member States had introduced the necessary legislation, some countries needed to take further measures to ensure an effective regulatory framework as well as satisfactory functioning of railway markets. The deadline for implementation of the first package was March 2003, the EC statement reminded.