September 2021.
UIP in reply to the open public consultation on the updated rules on fees & charges payable to the European Rail Agency, clearly contests the disproportionate increase of the hourly rate to 235€. This increase furthermore is not balanced out with a guarantee to implement quality improvements that would help reduce the time needed for vehicle authorizations. In addition, UIP objects to an applicant’s fee for the use of the OSS IT tool.
The European Railway Agency (ERA) regrettably has had its budget cut but covering its costs at the expense of the applicants for ERA services, which puts the entire sector’s competitiveness at risk, is not acceptable.
UIP therefore calls for an amended fees & charges scheme and urges the European institutions and the representatives of the Member States to correct the wrong decision of the past and restore an adequate budgetary support to ERA.