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1、European Rail Supply IndustryA N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 2 3Message from UNIFE Chair2Message from UNIFE Director General401.UNIFE in 2023902.European Affairs19Table of Contents03.International Affairs3705.R&I Activities6706.Signalling and ERTMS8907.ERWA:The UNIFE Railway Wheels Committee9709.Com

2、munications10910.UNIFE Staff12011.UNIFE Members in 202312504.Standards and Regulation5110108.IRIS:International Railway Industry StandardTable of Contents1 Message from Michael Peter,UNIFE ChairIn an era where progress resonates against a backdrop of economic and political dynamics as well as climat

3、e change,the UNIFE Annual Report 2023 serves as a chronicle and a compass.It is a chronicle that captures the outstanding collective efforts that brought us many achievements and milestones.And it serves as a compass to guide our industry to the urgent priorities ahead.Therefore,it is a great honour

4、 for me to introduce UNIFEs Annual Report 2023 for the first time as UNIFE Chair.Looking back at 2023,it was characterized by two main trends:decarbonization and digitalisation.2023 is now confirmed as the hottest year on record and efforts for transformative climate action like COP28 have picked up

5、 speed.The evidence has never been clearer that boosting rail transport plays a crucial role in this pivotal phase of transformation.The unprecedented advancement of digital technologies,especially the incredible potential of Artificial Intelligence,offer great possibilities to accelerate this trans

6、formation.In 2023,we have made many breakthroughs,and I am pleased to summarise and share the highlights:In our efforts to promote decarbonization in transport,we put rail on a more level playing field with other modes of transport and accelerated the deployment of alternative fuels:The review of th

7、e Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation now includes rail and will encourage EU Member States to roll out the infrastructure for alternative fuels on our networks.Tangible progress is being made to ensure that the shift to rail is not only pursued within Europes borders but also beyond them vi

8、a the EU Global Gateway initiative.As an important milestone,UNIFE has been selected to join the Global Gateway Business Advisory Group.Here we can press ahead for the best value-for-money in procurement and the promotion of European technology like the European Rail Traffic Management System(ERTMS)

9、.2UNIFE Annual Report 2023 Advancing digitalisation in rail requires wide-spread deployment of ERTMS as an essential building block.To promote ERTMS deployment and to overcome challenges such as authorization procedures,we recently launched an important sector initiative.We should see the first deli

10、verables of this initiative in 2024.The digital transformation of Europe has also been on top of the regulatory agenda with a number of blockbuster legislations like the EU Data Act,the AI Act or the EU Cyber Resilience Act being concluded over the last months.Thanks to our joint efforts,important c

11、hanges were made to these regulations to adapt them to the needs of industrial sectors like the rail supply industry.Looking ahead,2024 is critical to drive the agenda for our industry,even more so with the upcoming EU elections.At UNIFE,a major priority will be to deliver on the rail targets set ou

12、t in the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy:To double traffic on high-speed rail by 2030,tripling it by 2050 as well as doubling rail freight by 2050.To succeed,we need to forge ahead in three key policy areas:Firstly,to lay the foundation for further digitalisation of the sector we urgently ne

13、ed to expedite the deployment of ERTMS and replace legacy systems.A strong focus needs to be on network-wide implementation,closely aligned with national deployment plans.Secondly,funding for rolling stock and rail infrastructure needs to be increased to accelerate the decarbonization of the EU tran

14、sport sector.This includes funding for key technologies like ERTMS,the Future Railway Mobile Communication System(FRMCS)and Digital Automatic Coupling(DAC).Thirdly,we need a joint effort to simplify EU rail authorisation and foster a true Single European Railway Area.Procedures and diverging nationa

15、l operational rules are cost drivers that restrict growth.In summary,the European Rail Supply Industry is essential to the EU Green Deal,and one of our key levers to contribute to the achievement of those targets is digitalisation.All of our accomplishments have been driven by our collaborative effo

16、rts and the fine work of the UNIFE secretariat.Many thanks to the entire team for your dedication to numerous initiatives this year.I am eager to support this momentum to ensure the competitiveness of our sector and help us to attract the best talent for rail.Finally,I would like to express a specia

17、l gratitude to Philippe Citron who completes his mandate as UNIFE Director General in 2024.Philippe has steered UNIFE expertly for twelve years with a clear vision and commitment to technology,innovation,and stability in regulations to ensure UNIFE is the trusted voice of the EU rail suppliers.Thank

18、 you,Philippe.You have built us a fine legacy and foundation that we can all build upon.Michael PeterUNIFE Chair3 Message from UNIFE ChairMessage from Philippe Citron,UNIFE Director GeneralAs Europe continues to chart a path out of uncertainty and into a more hopeful and brighter tomorrow,our associ

19、ation has been persistent in producing a strong vision of the rail supply industry,and broader European rail network.We have been steadfast on what our vision for the future holds-a commitment to technologies,innovation and regulatory stability,which will ensure a modal shift to rail,while achieving

20、 a level-playing field in Europe and third countries with foreign competitors.As we enter the last months of the European institutional cycle(European Parliament,European Commission),many of our projects,plans and responsibilities are entering a crucial phase.Its not just the rail sector and communi

21、ty which we will spend this time advocating for developing a multi-modal transport system for Europe,which aims at achieving the broader goal of climate neutrality-we also believe it is vital the voters of Europe receive the transport solutions they need.In the enabling of greater competition,next g

22、eneration technologies,and revitalising Europes industrial might,we have the opportunity to start the careers of a range of new rail professionals,while also playing a major role in meeting Europes future challenges and commitments,such as the EU Green Deal Industrial Plan-a strategy designed to ens

23、ure Europes global leadership in green technologies while supporting the blocs net zero ambitions.Throughout 2023 the European and Member States policymakers persistently worked in putting the continent in a stronger position,as global headwinds continue to pose a range of challenges for the Europea

24、n industry and businesses.Inflation provided on-going challenge,alongside Russias war against Ukraine,which provide on-going tests for supply chains.4UNIFE Annual Report 2023The consistent vision UNIFE outlined in all its forums,whether it be gatherings such as the 32nd UNIFE General Assembly in Mad

25、rid,continuous consultation with industry and policymakers or in the press and online,our message is clear:rail can and will play a major role in shaping a more self-reliant and sustainable future for Europe.We continue to be optimistic our industry can follow through the 2022 World Rail Market Stud

26、y predictions of growth while waiting for its 2024 projections that will be made available at InnoTrans 2024.Through the EU National Recovery plans,the Connecting Europe Facility and Structural Funds,rail has many potential avenues to continue to be part of the post-COVID recovery infrastructure pla

27、ns of EU Member States,with UNIFE playing a key role in facilitating this.On that front,UNIFE has been insisting on co-operation.Not just greater co-operation within Europes borders,but also beyond them,as a member of the Global Gateway Business Advisory Group(transport sub-group).Despite geopolitic

28、al tensions creating significant barriers to resolutions,we are still supportive of dialogue to enable access to global markets for European companies.Further to this,we also believe that the instruments brought in by the European institutions will ensure fairer competition and a level-playing field

29、,which will enable protection of international trade norms.With the entry into force of EUs autonomous tools-the International Procurement Instrument,the Foreign Subsidies Regulation,and the Anti-Coercion Instrument-we have been working closely with our members to ensure these regulations are unders

30、tood and feasible to ensure fairness for the European rail supply industry.With 2023 themed the European Year of Skills,UNIFE has been working with the European institutions and our members,on crafting,designing and implementing the strategies to attract and retain the rail workforce of tomorrow.Fur

31、ther to this,we continued working on STAFFER,Rails Blueprint for Skills,undertaken with our partners at the European Commission,the University of Genoa and other members of the rail sector.UNIFE has been present in delivering a range of events,talks,forums and media coverage on the issue,while refin

32、ing policy strategies,which we intend on delivering as the Final Recommendations of the program are released next year.There was also encouraging further progress through our Gender Equity Policy,which seeks to diversify and broaden the current and future talent pool for the rail industry.This inclu

33、des activities such as chairing the Gender Equity Working Group,and undertaking deliverables,such as the Barriers Encountered by Women in Rail survey,policy development and broader advocacy on the issue.To support the setting-up of the Single European Railway Area and further inspire a shift to rail

34、,we continued to advocate for a more agile,predictable and flexible European rail technical regulation supporting better the competitiveness of the European rail supply industry.Work has continued on technical regulation,with the publication of the 2023 Technical Specifications for Interoperability

35、and on-going implementation of the Technical Pillar of the Fourth Railway Package by the European Union Agency for Railways(ERA).High-Level meetings with DG MOVE and ERA continued throughout 2023,in order to highlight the importance of getting a predictable evolution of the European technical framew

36、ork and to prevent any risks toon-going rail projects.Regarding Research and Innovation,UNIFE has followed closely the work of Europes Rail Joint Undertaking.UNIFE and its members were strongly involved in Europes Rail System Pillar,aiming at designing the future rail system architecture,and improvi

37、ng links to rail research and innovation activities performed in the Joint Undertaking with the evolution of the European rail technical regulation and European standards.UNIFE has also supported its members in Europes Rail Flagship Projects on the delivery of the first Europes Rail Innovation Progr

38、am.Linked with Europes Rail activities,UNIFE has actively supported the European Digital Automatic Coupling(DAC)Delivery Program.5 Message from UNIFE Director GeneralUNIFE has also been very active on another priority:Cybersecurity.It is of paramount importance for the European rail supply industry

39、to ensure that horizontal and vertical legal instruments are sufficiently coordinated to promote the harmonisation of cybersecurity regulations,but also to avoid potential overlaps.In 2023,UNIFE has notably been very active with the follow-up of the Cyber Resilience Act by engaging with co-legislato

40、rs and stakeholders to adequately convey the main concerns of the European rail supply industry.On the side of telecommunication,UNIFE has been actively involved in the EU funded research project 5GRAIL,which concluded in December with successful results,and is well on the way to validating the firs

41、t set of specifications for the Future Railway Mobile Communication System(FRMCS).As for quality,following the publication of the specific rail requirements for business management systems under ISO 22163,UNIFE published the IRIS Certification Performance Assessment:2023.In conjunction with the IRIS

42、 Certification Technology,these establish the IRIS Certification Revision 04 system which will come into force as of 1st April 2024.The main aim of this evolution is to simplify the process of certification and make IRIS Certification more efficient,streamlined and accessible.2023 saw also a change

43、at the helm of the UNIFE Presiding Board,Henri Poupart-Lafarge,Alstom CEO&Chairman has passed the role of Chair on to Michael Peter,the CEO of Siemens Mobility.We would like to thank Henri for steering UNIFE during the 3 year mandate,as we wish a very fruitful mandate to Michael.Upon taking the

44、new role Michael Peter stated that in order to progress we need to make an impact in three areas:the Single European Railway Area(interoperability,acceleration of ERTMS deployment),digitalisation,and making the rail industry an attractive and desirable place to work.To help us achieve these goals,ou

45、r membership expanded by 14 new companies,who will be key in reaching our stated goal of sustainable multimodality rooted in rail:ABB Switzerland(SW),Bodet Time&Sport(FR),Comtest Wireless International(IT),Megger(UK),Pilz(DE),koda Transportation(CZ),Viavi Solutions(FR),Vibratec(FR),Camlin Rail(U

46、K),Cellnex Telecom(ES),DIGAS(LV),The Cross Product(FR),Bode-Die Tr(DE).As we enter the last months of the European institutional cycle(European Parliament,European Commission),many of our projects,plans and responsibilities are entering a crucial phase.Its not just the rail sector and community whic

47、h we will spend this time advocating for developing a multi-modal transport system for Europe,which aims at achieving the broader goal of climate neutrality-we also believe it is vital the voters of Europe receive the transport solutions they need.Last but not least,you may already know this is my l

48、ast year as UNIFEs Director General,so I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for the fruitful cooperation we have shared,together with the excellent support of the UNIFE team,during my 12 years in this role.Firstly,I would like to thank our members for entrusting me to drive

49、the European Rail Supply Industrys pivotal role,as working together on this project has been an incredible experience.Secondly,I would like to thank the rail community,the Members of the European Commission,the European Parliament,and the 27 EU Member States representatives for their significant col

50、laboration.Your engagement in our advocacy initiatives has helped us to take our unique transportation mode to a new level.We look forward to 2024,in which we will continue to work on building the future of rail.Philippe CitronUNIFE Director General6UNIFE Annual Report 20237 Message from UNIFE Direc

51、tor GeneralUNIFE in 202301.UNIFE Mission1423“Promoting Rail Market Growthfor Sustainable Mobility”Promoting European policies and programmes favourable to railProviding UNIFE Members with strategic and operational knowledgeWorking towards an interoperable and efficient European railway systemEnsurin

52、g European Rail Supply Industrys leadership through advanced research,innovation and quality10UNIFE Annual Report 2023How UNIFE WorksII.Public AffairsIII.European Rail ResearchIV.IRIS CertificationI.EU Standardisation&HarmonisationEuropean Rail Supply IndustryEuropean Union Collaborating with th

53、e European Union Agency for Railways on the definition of rail regulations(including the Technical Pillar of the Fourth Railway Package)and Technical Specifications for Interoperability(TSIs)Supplying expertise for European and International Standardisation Bodies(e.g.CEN/CENELEC,ISO)Contributing to

54、 the development of the Single European Rail Area Coordinating EU-funded research projects Playing an active role in ERRAC-the European Rail Research Advisory Council Cooperating with the Europes Rail Joint Undertaking and contributing to the follow-up of its activities Shaping the future of rail re

55、search&innovation in Europe The globally recognised rail quality management system Enables efficient business processes and leads to substantial quality improvements and cost reduction throughout the supply-chain More than 2275 IRIS Certification certificates issued worldwide Advocating policies

56、 that increase the global competitiveness of the European Rail Supply Industry Supporting modal shift policies that give priority to rail Encouraging investment in rail projects Promoting rail transport as the best solution to meet social challenges of the future11 01.UNIFE in 2023UNIFE StructurePub

57、lic AffairsStrategy CommitteeOffice ManagerPublic Affairs Liaison GroupNational AssociationsSME CommitteeTrade and International Affairs CommitteeDigitalisation CommitteeInvestment and ProjectFinancing Expert GroupCommunications Communications CommitteeGender Equity Advisory Group MembershipIRIS Cer

58、tificationIRIS Steering Committee IRIS Topical Working GroupsUNIFE General AssemblyFinance,Legal&HRUNIFE Presiding BoardDirector GeneralTechnical AffairsTechnical PlatformFreight CommitteeSystem PillarCommitteeInfrastructureCommittee(UNIRAILINFRA)Cyber-Security Working GroupResearch&Innovati

59、on CommitteeERWA Steering CommitteeUNITELStandards&Regulation GroupControl-Command&SignallingUESCCCS PlatformUNISIGSustainable Transport CommitteeUNIFE Staff&UnitsUNIFE Management CommitteesUNIFE Working Groups&Projects12UNIFE Annual Report 2023UNIFE Presiding BoardPascal SchweitzerC

60、EO,Faiveley Transport Millar Crawford Executive Vice President,Ground Transportation Systems,Thales Group Javier Martnez OjinagaCEO,CAF GroupAugusto MensiCEO,Lucchini RSHenri Poupart-Lafarge CEO,AlstomNicolas Lange*Member of the Executive Board and Responsible for the Rail Vehicle Systems division,K

61、norr-Bremse AGRoger Dirksmeier Managing Director,FOGTEC(representing the UNIFE SME Committee)Franz Kainersdorfer Member of the Management Board,Voestalpine AGMembers of the Presiding Board Michael PeterCEO,Siemens Mobility2023-2026UNIFE Chair*Subject to approval of the UNIFE General Assembly in June

62、 202401.UNIFE in 202313 The Presiding Board is UNIFEs highest committee.It is responsible for the management of the association.The Board takes any measure or action required to achieve the objectives and general policies of the association.This body reviews applications for membership before they a

63、re submitted to the General Assembly for ratification.The Presiding Board is composed of 9 members elected by the General Assembly,every three years.One seat on the Presiding Board is reserved for the Chairperson of the UNIFE SME Committee.The Strategy Committee steers UNIFE activities and advises t

64、he Presiding Board on all strategic and political issues.It is composed of high-level managers representing the associations most prominent members.The Technical Platform brings together all UNIFE Members and equally covers all EU research,technical harmonisation and standardisation matters.The plat

65、form regularly reports on relevant developments and the Associations activities at EU level standardisation bodies.It also shares news regarding the Associations R&I projects,including Europes Rail Joint Undertaking.The Technical Platform communicates changes within the regulatory framework in r

66、egards to the European Union Agency for Railways(ERA)and the European Commission(i.e.DG MOVE,DG RTD,DG GROW,etc.,).This body enables all members to have a better understanding of current EU rail technical issues,their background and their implications for the industry in Europe and beyond.The UNIFE

67、Freight Committee gathers companies active in the rail freight business and aims to strengthen the position of the industry within the European institutions policy priorities.This committee provides its members with information and support on EU R&I funding opportunities,rail freight policy deve

68、lopments and participation in EU lobbying on pertinent rail freight developments,including discussions concerning ongoing and upcoming TSIs/Standards,as well as following the Digital UNIFE Committees and Working Groups14UNIFE Annual Report 2023Automatic Coupling activities at European level includin

69、g the work of the Task 4 of Europes Rail System Pillar.UNIRAILINFRA is a consensus-building platform focused on rail industry infrastructure at a pre-competitive stage.It promotes investment and innovation in the railway infrastructure and energy areas.UNIRAILINFRA brings together companies speciali

70、sing in the manufacturing and supply of fixed railway equipment linked to the infrastructure and energy subsystems with companies that design,construct and maintain those products.The Research and Innovation(R&I)Committee is responsible for monitoring European rail research opportunities and pre

71、paring recommendations.It is responsible for the regular exchange of information on European rail research,including updates pertaining to Europes Rail Joint Undertaking,discussions on Horizon Europe R&I work-programmes and the definition of railway suppliers R&I positions.The committee also

72、 drafts common positions that will be defended at the EU level.Its purview also includes contributing to ongoing initiatives such as ERRAC,Europes Rail,the Industrial Dialogue and European Commission consultations on R&I.The UNIFE System Pillar Committee is responsible for the definition of the

73、overall strategy and strategic guidance of UNIFE regarding Europes Rail System Pillar activities.This committee is following Europes Rail System Pillar activities and aims at defining UNIFEs position on the strategic topics discussed in the System Pillar.This committee is composed notably of UNIFE E

74、uropes Rail Founding Members and members of the UNIFE Strategy Committee.This committee is working in close contact with UNITEL,UNISIG,SRG and the UNIFE Freight Committee.The UNIFE System Pillar Technical Group is responsible for the follow-up of the Task 1 of Europes Rail Joint Undertaking dealing

75、notably with the definition of the high-level architecture of the European railway system.It defines UNIFEs position on strategic topics linked to the evolution of the European railway system.The Committee brings together representatives from UNITEL,UNISIG and SRG and reports to the UNIFE System Pil

76、lar Committee.The Standards and Regulation Group(SRG)steers UNIFEs technical activities pertaining to the European regulatory framework(i.e.Railway Directives,TSIs,etc.)and standardisation,in Europe and abroad.The SRG is composed of technical directors from the UNIFEs main system integrators and sub

77、system suppliers.The European Railway Wheels Association(ERWA)aims at promoting usage benefits,lifecycle cost reduction and standardisation of railway wheels and wheelsets.Its mission includes developing standards and promoting innovation in safety and environmental friendliness.The group also encou

78、rages the adoption of best practices across the European market.The ERWA Steering Committee is composed of CEOs from European wheels and wheelsets manufacturers.It is supported by the Development Committee,which analyses political issues,market strategy and communications;and the Technical Committee

79、,which deals with standardisation,regulation and research.The Digitalisation Committee focuses on developing digital technologies in the rail sector from a political,technical,and business perspective.The main objectives of the Committee are to bring the rail supply industrys view to the centre of t

80、he EU-level digital debate.In addition,the members aim to understand better the potential opportunities and challenges of digitalising rail transport.The Cyber-Security Working Group brings together the associations member companies that possess significant cyber-security expertise.This working grou

81、ps main objective is to provide UNIFE members with a forum to discuss and identify opportunities for cybersecurity cooperation within the European rail sector,strengthening its position when compared to competitors and other stakeholders.The UNIFE Extended CCS Steering Committee(UESC)coordinates UNI

82、FEs strategic and political ERTMS activities.UESC members regularly liaise with European Commission(DG Move)and European Railways Agency(ERA)representatives 01.UNIFE in 202315 to address any political issues related to ERTMS and organise high-level meetings between European bodies representatives an

83、d Signalling companies CEOs and/or Directors.The UNISIG Committee is composed of UNIFE members that supply ETCS products and systems.The committee was established in 1998 to develop the ETCS technical specifications to guarantee interoperability.The role of UNISIG in the context of the CCS TSI is to

84、 develop,maintain and update the ETCS specifications in close cooperation with Railways under the leadership of the European Agency for Rail(ERA),which has been made the“system authority”for ERTMS.As of this year,UNISIG is contributing to the technical activities in the System Pillar of Europes Rail

85、 Joint Undertaking.The ERTMS Marketing Group(UEMG)is tasked with coordinating any marketing activities related to the European Rail Traffic Management System(ERTMS).This includes collecting and disseminating deployment statistics,planning events,generating common publications such as factsheets,flye

86、rs,and brochures,as well as managing the ERTMS website.The Control Command and Signalling Platform(CCS-P)is a platform aiming at exchanging on control command and signalling topics.The platform is an information and sharing platform focusing on the progress of Europes Rail System Pillar activities e

87、specially regarding Task 2 of the System Pillar dealing with Control Command and Signalling.The UNITEL Committee focuses on the development and implementation of the future interoperable railway communication system(FRMCS/Next Generation),the inherent successor of GSM-R,as part of the future ERTMS.U

88、NITEL bring together the major railway telecommunications products suppliers and companies that have significant experience in current GSM-R and future railway systems.The committee members aim to ensure that the railways communication system fulfils existing and future signalling,train control and

89、traffic management requirements,as well as supports European railway research initiatives.The National Associations Committee gathers the directors of 12 national rail associations from 11 different EU Member States,collectively representing more than 1,000 large-and medium-sized European rail suppl

90、y companies.As UNIFE Associate Members,these organisations promote our positions domestically while elevating national concerns to the European level.The Public Affairs Liaison Group brings together representatives of full UNIFE Members responsible for EU and national advocacy.It discusses lobbying

91、strategies concerning important EU political files.It also identifies synergies between the association and its membership for impactful lobbying activities and campaigns.The SME Committee is a platform for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises(SMEs)to share and learn information about EU policies and

92、available funds.This group works to facilitate SMEs members access to support schemes and to prepare advocacy campaigns on issues of concern to organisations of this size.The Trade&International Affairs Committee(TIAC)oversees the monitoring of EU trade negotiations and instruments with potentia

93、lly significant implications for the European rail supply industry and coordinating UNIFEs responses.The Committee also focuses on public procurement,be it at international or EU level.TIAC is also a platform for the exchange and dissemination of information on bilateral cooperation activities under

94、taken by UNIFE in international markets.The Sustainable Transport Committee(STC)brings together the rail supply industrys leading experts on sustainability-related topics.The STC defines the strategy and carries out UNIFEs activities in the field of sustainable mobility,climate crisis,energy efficie

95、ncy,urban mobility,circular economy,sustainable finance(EU Taxonomy)and any other relevant EU policy initiative.The STC coordinates the activities of two technical expert bodies,named Topical Groups:the Life-cycle Assessment Topical Group(LCA TG)and the Chemical Risks Topical Group(CR TG).16UNIFE An

96、nual Report 2023The Investment and Project Financing Expert Group brings together high-level executives responsible for long-term financing and corporate relationships with multilateral development banks,such as the European Investment Bank(EIB)and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Developmen

97、t(EBRD).This committee explores funding avenues for infrastructure and industrial projects,including Public Private Partnerships(PPPs).The Expert Group also tracks and communicates on issues related to export financing(e.g.,Export Credits).The International Railway Industry Standard(IRIS)Steering Co

98、mmittee was established in 2006 and is composed of high-level representatives from the UNIFE system integrators and equipment manufacturer membership.This steering committee is the UNIFE working group responsible for IRIS Certification operational management and decisions regarding resources,contrac

99、ts and financial budgeting.The UNIFE Gender Equity Advisory Group will work to assess the current situation of female employees throughout the industry,to understand barriers of entry for those wishing to have a fulfilling mobility career and to craft association position papers,statements and recom

100、mendations in order to ensure the optimal mobilisation of the rail community going forward.The UNIFE Communications Committee steers the UNIFE Communication Strategy.It is composed of the Communications Directors of UNIFE members.Aerodynamics Brakes Cabin Chemical Risks Crash Safety Diesel Electroma

101、gnetic Compatibility(EMC)Energy Energy Efficiency Entity in charge of maintenance(ECM)Fire Safety(SRT)Infrastructure Life Cycle Assessment(LCA)Noise Persons with Reduced Mobility(PRM)Railway Dynamics Rolling Stock Safety Assurance Signalling Telematic Application for Passengers&Freight(TAP&T

102、AF)Train Control Management System(TCMS)Vehicle Authorisation Wagon(WAG)UNIFE Technical Working Groups17 01.UNIFE in 2023European Affairs02.1.Industrial Policy.202.Skills Policy.223.Green Deal and Transport Decarbonisation.244.Digitalisation.285.Investment Policy.306.Public Procurement in Europe.341

103、.Industrial Policya.Inflation and disruptions in the rail supply industry Despite the positive growth forecast for the world rail market,concerns regarding widespread inflation and supply chain disruptions continue.UNIFE maintained continuous and regular bilateral exchanges with member companies,in

104、order to reflect on the long-lasting impacts of these situations.Based on existing position papers,actions will continue in 2024,as both issues are expected to be a major challenge for the new representatives of the EU institutions.European Commissions Factsheet on the Net-Zero Actb.The Net-Zero Ind

105、ustry Act:Fostering clean technologies in EuropeIn January 2023,the European Commission announced the European Green Deal Industrial Plan,which sets out how the EU will lead the path to climate neutrality by investing in clean technology.UNIFE closely followed a related initiative named the Net-Zero

106、 Industry Act,which aims at creating the necessary conditions to facilitate investments in net-zero technology manufacturing projects.However,the proposal from the European Commission was only focused on certain key energy technologies,and not prioritising key decarbonisation industries such as the

107、rail supply industry.Therefore,through a position paper and various advocacy actions,UNIFE strived for the extension of the scope of the Regulation and for the introduction of EU public procurement rules.20UNIFE Annual Report 2023c.Mobility ecosystem transition pathwayIn January 2022,the European Co

108、mmissions DG GROW published a Staff Working Document titled“For a resilient,innovative,sustainable and digital mobility ecosystem Scenarios for a transition pathway”.The Mobility Ecosystem is one of the 14 priority sectoral groupings established by the European Commission in the revised 2020 Industr

109、ial Strategy.Throughout 2023,UNIFE co-organised with the European Commission(DG GROW)a sectoral roundtable on rail and participated in several transversal roundtables(skills,research and innovation).In doing so,UNIFE played a key role in coordinating the views of the European rail suppliers to ensur

110、e that the specific needs of our sector are duly taken into consideration when it comes to decarbonisation,digitalisation and resilience.d.Competitiveness of the Rail Supply IndustryAt the end of 2022,at the request of UNIFE,the European Commission endorsed an extension of the mandate of the EC Expe

111、rt Group on the Competitiveness of the Rail Supply Industry until 2025.Its continuation is instrumental to maintaining our constructive dialogue and collaboration with the different Directorates-General of the European Commission,the Member States and the railway operating community.In June 2023,a m

112、eeting of the EC Expert Group was held in order to discuss the economic situation of the industry as well as major priorities,such as the implementation of the Green Deal or EU rail procurement.The meeting confirmed that this forum is a much-needed governance tool for discussing our industrys priori

113、ties at EU level,in conjunction with the mobility ecosystem and transition pathway.UNIFE also organised or participated in a number of industry-related events:In the framework of the European Parliaments Forum for International Trade&International Competition,UNIFEs Director General Philippe Cit

114、ron was a speaker in the event“Revitalising Europes industrial might:pathways to counter de-industrialisation”,hosted by MEPs Inmaculada Rodrguez-Piero(ES)and Iuliu Winkler(RO).Additionally,as part of the French rail fair SIFER,UNIFE organised an event on the rising challenges and possible solutions

115、 to boost the competitiveness of the European Rail Supply Industry.UNIFE Position Paper on the mobility ecosystem transition pathway March 2022 UNIFEs Position Paper on the mobility ecosystem transition pathway European Parliament Forum“Revitalising Europes industrial might:pathways to counter de-in

116、dustrialisation”,28 March 202302.European Affairs21 2.Skills PolicyUNIFE has been active on Skills in 2023,in particular in the context of the European Rail Skills Alliance(STAFFER).The ERASMUS+financed project aims at supporting an overall sectoral skills strategy,developing concrete actions to add

117、ress short-and medium-term training needs and also identifying the most sought-after jobs within the European rail sector.The project is now heading into its final stages,ending in 2024.Throughout 2023,and also in the context of the European Year of Skills,UNIFE organised and participated in a numbe

118、r of events and activities to promote STAFFER.In March,UNIFE organised a roundtable discussion titled“Skills and Youth what are the challenges for the European Railway Sector?”at SIFER.OndejKovak(Member of the European Parliament,and of Rail Forum Europe),Elzbieta Lukaniuk(Member of Cabinet of EU Tr

119、ansport Commissioner Vlean),Josef Doppelbauer(Executive Director,ERA),Jonathan Nguyen(Head of Public Affairs,UNIFE)During the Rail Forum Europe event“Re-Train Rail”and hosted by Member of the European Parliament OndejKovak(CZ)in June,UNIFE had the opportunity to engage with different stakeholders an

120、d discuss key topics for the rail industry,such as attractiveness,education and training needs and presented the STAFFER project.Later in December,UNIFE was once again present at the Rail Live!fair in Madrid,participating in the event“People,purpose&potential:The STAFFER project delivering a Eur

121、opean view to attracting talent onto the railways”On top of the various events organised during the year,UNIFE advanced on its channels of communication and online activities around skills,attractiveness and diversity,supported by infographics,informative video reels and press articles in the Intern

122、ational Railway Journal and Euractiv.Finally,UNIFE participated in the Transition Mobility Pathway and its co-creation roundtables on social issues,a European Commission(DG GROW)led-initiative,aiming at identifying the green and digital transitions main challenges and opportune ities within the Mobi

123、lity sector.Formoreinformation,pleasevisitSTAFFERs dedicated website,LinkedIn and Twitter channelsLudovic Vermeulen(Training and Operations Director,Ferro Campus),Barbara Grau(Senior Advisor European and International HR Affairs,SNCF),Irma Padilla-Marroquin(L&D Europe/AU Campus Manager,Alstom),A

124、na Manuelito(Public Affairs Manager,UNIFE)22UNIFE Annual Report 2023What skills does the European rail sector need?Skills for the Railway IndustrySkills for Railway Operators and Infrastructure ManagersProblem-solvingForeign language skillsCommunicationInteroperability skillsICT skillsTechnological

125、skillsAutonomyLearning motivation and opennessResilience www.railstaffer.euAssociation skillsCommunicationProblem-solvingCybersecurityCloud based signallingSystems engineeringBig data analysisDifferent customer service skillsRemote condition monitoringVirtual reality simulators and trainers02.Europe

126、an Affairs23 a.Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation(AFIR)As part of the Fit for 55 package,the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation(AFIR)entered into force in 2023,and thanks to UNIFEs advocacy,with a positive result.The European Rail Supply Industry has been working for several years

127、to develop and place on the market solutions based on alternative fuels,including battery-powered trains and hydrogen applications,to gradually phase out diesel trains.The ongoing deployment of those alternative fuels solutions in the rail sector is already a reality in several European countries,an

128、d is set to grow even further in the coming years.Against this background,AFIR marks an opportunity to establish the basis for a progressive deployment of alternative fuels infrastructures for rail,particularly for those lines which cannot be electrified.UNIFE considers the inclusion of rail under t

129、he scope of AFIR as a step in the right direction,in particular due to the relevant rail-related provisions:Member States shall assess the development of alternative fuel technologies and propulsion systems for rail sections that cannot be fully electrified for technical or cost-efficiency reasons,s

130、uch as hydrogen or battery-electric train and,if relevant,any refuelling and recharging infrastructure needs3.Green Deal and Transport DecarbonisationTransport is responsible for almost 25%of greenhouse gas(GHG)emission in the EU.24UNIFE Annual Report 2023 Member States will have to provide an overv

131、iew by 2025,within their National Policy Frameworks,of the state of play,perspectives,and planned initiatives for deployment of infrastructure,including targets,key milestones and financing needed for hydrogen or battery electric trains on network segments that cannot be electrified.The European Com

132、mission will also be able to issue recommendations on the National Policy Frameworks regarding the level of ambition of targets and objectives and the policy measures related to them.AFIR therefore sets an appropriate regulatory framework to sustain the investments made by railway suppliers,operator

133、s and infrastructure managers alike in innovative alternatives to diesel,facilitating European technology leadership and deployment in this field.b.European TaxonomyUNIFE and its members have been very active on the EU Taxonomy file,as this topic is vital to channel investments towards greener proje

134、cts and financing solutions including towards the rail sector and supply industry.UNIFE continued to support the Commissions ambition to use the EU Taxonomy Regulation to define a common classification scheme,including criteria for identifying sustainable economic activities,to guide investors and f

135、inancial institutions through a truly green transition.The EU Taxonomys regulatory framework must enable fair,verifiable and reliable comparability between the different economic activities and modes of transport.Due to the complexity of this legal framework,part of the rail supply industrys activit

136、ies were not covered by the EU Taxonomy,a very problematic situation with potentially harmful financial consequences.Compared to the previous versions of the text,the European Commissions proposal for amending the Taxonomy Climate and Disclosures Delegated Acts,published for public consultation in A

137、pril 2023,improved the legal framework for the rail industry.Some points were still to be adjusted,and detailed feedback from UNIFE was sent to the Commission.In addition,a joint statement was co-signed by six European rail sector organisations and sent to the Cabinets of Commissioners in charge of

138、this file,as well as representatives from the Directorate-General Mobility and Transport(DG MOVE),and the Directorate-General for Financial Stability,Financial Services and Capital Markets Union(DG FISMA).As a result,the final version of the Delegated Acts is much improved compared to the initial dr

139、aft.Nevertheless,some problematic aspects remain,leading to further actions needed in 2024.These will include a new position paper that will list the rail supply and sectors issues,while providing solutions to the European institutions to improve the EU Taxonomy.The European rail sectors joint state

140、ment on the revised Taxonomy Delegated Acts was co-signed by six organisations and sent to the European Commission in May 202302.European Affairs25 c.Ecodesign Sustainable Product Regulation and other initiativesAs part of the first Package of Circular Economy,the European Commission has published a

141、 legislative proposal for Ecodesign Sustainable Product Regulation(ESPR).The main objective is to extend the scope of the Ecodesign directive(2009)to a broader range of products and introduce the EU digital product passport to provide the value chain with more information on the products environment

142、al sustainability.The European Commission released in January 2023 its 1st Working Plan of the Ecodesign Sustainable Products Regulation,as a result UNIFE submitted a contribution to the public consultation in May 2023.The main concerns for the rail sector identified by UNIFE are primarily the inclu

143、sion of rail-related products in the scope of the regulation and the possible misalignment with existing rail environmental declaration methodologies already in place(Environmental Product Declaration and Product Category Rules).Following exchanges with the Directorate-General for Internal Market,In

144、dustry,Entrepreneurship and SMEs(DG GROW),it was clarified that the rail sector will not be included in the first phase,but some essential products,such as steel or glass,are.d.PFAS restriction proposal:a key concern for the rail industryPer-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances(PFAS)are a family of artif

145、icial chemicals with 12,000 different substances,used in many products due to various valuable properties:lubricant,water and dirt repellence,durability under extreme conditions(temperature,pressure,radiation,chemicals),electrical and thermal insulation,refrigerants etc.Besides widespread consumer u

146、ses,PFAS are used in many industrial sectors,including the rail supply industry and its entire value chain,such as in refrigerant(F-gases),electronic components,batteries,fuel cells,plastics,textiles,lubricants,adhesives,paints,hydraulic fluids,firefighting foam,etc.However,PFAS have a high persiste

147、nce associated with potential environmental and human health concerns,thus their prevalence in high-impact media coverage,which terms them as“the forever chemicals.?P PF FA AS S r re es st tr ri ic ct ti io on n p pr ro op po os sa al l:a a k ke ey y c co on nc ce er rn n f fo or r t th he e r ra ai

148、 il l i in nd du us st tr ry y?“?”.?UNIFE Factsheet explaining the PFAS restriction proposal26UNIFE Annual Report 2023Table summarising the derogations on the PFAS restriction proposal the European rail sector requested Exemption*:as already covered by the revision of the F-gases regulationMain appl

149、ication as defined in Annex XV report proposalSub-uses as described in Annex XV report proposalExamples of useRequest for confirmation of the proposed derogation as in the Annex XV report proposal(plus a review clause)Request for derogations for missing uses and/or no possibility of modifying the ex

150、isting application(plus a review clause)Applications of fluorinated gases(F-gas)Air conditioning and heat pumpsNew HVACMissing useExemption*Existing HVAC5.i(13.5 years after EiF)Exemption*Existing HVAC with mechanical and hydraulic compressors5.p(6.5 years after EiF)Exemption*Fire suppressantsAutoma

151、tic fire system5.m(13.5 years after EiF)Exemption*RefrigerationCatering Battery Monitoring SystemsMissing useExemption*Climatic chamber5.g(13.5 years after EiF)Exemption*Electronics&semiconductorsCoating,solvents,cleaningMissing use13.5 years after EiFElectronic componentsMissing use13.5 years a

152、fter EiFSemiconductors5.ee(13.5 years after EiF)-Wires&cablesMotor Sheath-Heat shrinkableMissing use13.5 years after EiFEnergy sectorBatteriesBatteriesMissing use13.5 years after EiFProton exchange membrane(PEM)fuel cellsFuel cells6.e(6.5 years after EiF)13.5 years after EiF as a minimumLubrican

153、tsGreasesGreases5.s(13.5 years after EiF)-Low viscosity lubricantsOil5.s(13.5 years after EiF)-TransportCoating and finishingsBalljoint6.o(13.5 years after EiF)-Electrical engineering and information technology6.o(13.5 years after EiF)-Sliding and guiding elementsSliding part-segment-guide-bearing5.

154、a(6.5 years after EiF)6.o(13.5 years after EiF)13.5 years after EiFSafety equipment(incl.fire prevention&protection)6.o(13.5 years after EiF)-Sealing applicationsTransformer-bogie-motor-brake6.o(13.5 years after EiF)-Valves of tank wagonsMissing use13.5 years after EiF asaminimumTULAC(Textile,up

155、holstery,leather,apparel and carpets)Technical textilesValves,venting,membrane5.e(6.5 years after EiF)-02.European Affairs27 In the same spirit,UNIFE organised a session on the PFAS restriction proposal with the members of the Platform for Electromobility,which brings together more than 40 members f

156、rom across all transport modes,including UNIFE.This shows that the other actors of the electromobility value chain share UNIFEs concerns on the chemical risks dossier.The European Chemicals Agency(ECHA),backed by the national authorities of Germany,Denmark,the Netherlands,Norway and Sweden,published

157、 a PFAS restriction proposal on 7 February 2023.The proposed restriction on PFAS is set to be one of the largest ever on chemical substances in the European Union.If approved,manufacturing and placing products containing PFAS on the EU market will no longer be permitted by 2027.After this,possible d

158、erogations might exist for a use-specific and a time-limited transition period(maximum until 2039)without extension or renewal.This means work on alternatives by industry is essential.For this reason,UNIFE organised an internal webinar for its members,accompanied by a factsheet explaining the PFAS r

159、estriction proposal for the rail sector available online.The 6-month ECHA public consultation received more than 5,600 submissions from over 4,400 organisations,including the 68-page contribution from UNIFE and its partner organisations.Endorsed by nine rail organisations led by UNIFE,it proposes a

160、mapping of the PFAS used by the railway sector,a list of alternatives(when possible),and a table listing derogations for essential PFAS applications.UNIFE will continue monitoring the European Chemicals Agencys next move,as its final proposal will be sent to the European Commission.Therefore,raising

161、 awareness of the potential negative impact of a total PFAS use ban on the rail sector is crucial.4.DigitalisationThroughout 2023,UNIFE closely monitored all the relevant initiatives linked to the European Data Strategy launched in 2020.The goal of the Commission is to create a single market for dat

162、a and cybersecurity across the EU as well as to establish“common European data spaces”across different sectors including rail.UNIFE has been mainly focused on the EU Data Act,and on other key digitalisation priorities such as the Cyber-Resilience Act.a.EU Data ActThe European Commissions proposal fo

163、r a regulation on harmonised rules on fair access to and use of data,also known as the EU Data Act,was published in February 2022.It aims to improve user access to data generated by all connected devices in business-to-business(B2B)and business-to-government(B2G)contexts.28UNIFE Annual Report 2023Ra

164、il networks produce a staggering amount of digital information,which includes several billion data points yearly.The rail supply industry has fully acknowledged the importance of collecting,managing and effectively processing data,as a better management of data has a range of benefits(such as e.g im

165、proving the maintenance of railway infrastructure and rolling stock,reducing the life-cycle cost of rail products and enabling better and dynamic traffic management).Therefore,removing barriers to data-sharing between rail operators(mainline and urban),infrastructure managers,and suppliers is crucia

166、l.UNIFE conveyed its position in the European public consultation and in its position paper released in July 2022.UNIFE supported the European Commissions objective to increase access to and further use of data in both the B2B and B2G contexts,as this will contribute to maximising the benefits of da

167、ta for the mobility ecosystem,but had many concerns with the transversal nature of the proposal.This is an essential file on which there was intensive advocacy,from various sectors and particularly from UNIFE and its members,until the very end of the negotiations.The Council and the European Parliam

168、ent approved the definitive version of the regulation in November 2023,with overall positive results for the European Rail Supply Industry.c.Cyber Resilience ActIn September 2022,the European Commission proposed a regulation on cybersecurity requirements for products with digital elements,including

169、software the Cyber Resilience Act(CRA)with three main objectives:Inclusion of cybersecurity by design through self-assessment or third-party certification affecting CE marking,a maintenance phase in which manufacturers must provide free patches for any exploited vulnerabilities,and reporting obligat

170、ions for such exploited vulnerabilities.All these obligations are at the manufacturers expense.UNIFE pointed out early on in the process that the proposal would be difficult to apply to the railway sector,as it is an industrial sector.Indeed,the impact of this file would have been detrimental to the

171、 Railway Supply Industry and would have had a huge financial impact on the sector.The main concerns related to the unbalanced obligations depending on the organisation of the rail sector as well as technical problems,e.g.in the supply of spare parts interacting with legacy systems and the high cost

172、of the proposed maintenance phase,where the provision of free patches in industrial sectors is very costly.UNIFE and its members have been engaging with the co-legislators throughout 2023 to ensure that the proposal can be better applied in the railway sector.This took the form of position papers,ex

173、planatory documents,high-level letters,joint statements with other associations,and proposed amendments to the interim text of the file,while the co-legislators made progress in reaching agreement on the final text.The final form is better suited to rail transport and a great success for a more cohe

174、rent application within the rail supply industry.02.European Affairs29 5.Investment Policy“EU funds are an exceptional tool to support rail related investments.In the context of NextGeneration EU and the EU MFF programmes,UNIFE continues advocating for significant allocation of EU funds for rail and

175、 closely monitoring its implementation and deployment.Strong efforts are needed to improve the absorption capacity and allow an effective implementation of projects across EU Member States”a.NextGeneration EUOver the last 12 months,Member States have made use of EU Recovery and Resilience Facility(R

176、RF)funds to boost rail related investments in infrastructure,rolling stock,urban mobility and signalling.In this sense,the Member States National Recovery Plans incorporate ca.55 billion for rail related investments.According to the European Commission,based on its RRF 2023 Annual Report,a total of

177、153.4 billion(all sectors)has been already disbursed to Member States.A swift implementation of all the reforms and investments detailed in the National Recovery Plans will be essential to fulfil the implementation deadline of 2026 set up in the RRF Regulation.Furthermore,several Member States are c

178、urrently submitting revised Plans to the Commission to accommodate the REPower EU chapters,but also to solicit their respective loan components to incorporate new investments or reforms or amend existing ones.In this regard,pending final approval from both Commission and Council,we observe that Memb

179、er States have requested additional 147.5 billion in loans,which include financial support to new or existing rail investments.UNIFE continues to closely monitor all these updates.Additionally,UNIFE circulated amongst its members a compiled overview of rail projects in the National Recovery Plans in

180、 order for them to monitor and track the rail investments foreseen in each of the Plans.SPEEDING UP AND DELIVERING REFORMS AND INVESTMENTSRECOVERY AND RESILIENCE FACILITY-ANNUAL REPORT30UNIFE Annual Report 2023c.Connecting Europe FacilityThe Connecting Europe Facility(CEF)is one of the most successf

181、ul EU programmes designed to support rail related infrastructure investments on the EU Trans-European Transport Network(TEN-T).Out of the 25.8 billion earmarked for transport,rail is set to be assigned at least 70%of the total.This has been confirmed when considering the 2021 and 2022 call for propo

182、sals,which saw over 10 billion allocated to rail project construction and modernisation of infrastructure,but also including ERTMS and military mobility.In order to speed up implementation,the Commission has frontloaded funding in the first three years of the programme.With the recent launch of the

183、2023 call with 7 billion available for support(all transport sectors),the majority of the budget will be exhausted by 2024.One of the main novelties of CEF is that now,the Commission incorporates Ukraine and Moldova as eligible countries for funding,with the aim of integrating the European rail netw

184、ork with these countries.UNIFE will continue to advocate for significant reinforcement of the CEF budget in the upcoming MFF.b.European Structural and Investment FundsThe European Structural and Investment Funds(ESIF)continue to be a key tool within the EU Cohesion Policy that supports significant r

185、ail investmen ts which are co-financed by Member States.During the course of 2023,all Member States had their Partnership Agreements signed with the European Commission.Over this period,UNIFE has been closely monitoring and analysing the publication of all the Operational Programmes which detail the

186、 rail related investments to be allocated and implemented over the coming years.To help UNIFE members navigate these funds,UNIFE shared a detailed overview of EU Cohesion Policy funding for rail and SMEs 2021-2027.The analysis shows that ca.30 billion are to be allocated to rail infrastructure and r

187、olling stock,and signalling including at the urban level for urban rail mobility.ESIF related funds have to be committed by 2029.In this sense,UNIFE has been always vocal on the challenges posed by the lack of absorption capacity across several Member States and the need to speed up implementation w

188、ith reinforced collaboration between public administrations and the rail sector.02.European Affairs31 d.Revision of the TEN-T RegulationSince 2021,negotiations have been ongoing to conclude the revision of the TEN-T Regulation,which should become operational as of 2024.The TEN-T aims to make the EUs

189、 transport network safer,more sustainable,faster,and more convenient for its users.To address the missing links and modernise the entire network,quality standards and infrastructure requirements must be increased.As the most sustainable mode of transport,rail plays a fundamental role in the TEN-T Ne

190、twork.Completing missing infrastructure cross-border links and modernising existing ones,will stimulate rail market growth in the years to come.UNIFE is strongly supporting the ambitious proposals,which have been made by the European Commission and reinforced by the European Parliament.In this sense

191、,UNIFE advocates for strong TEN-T governance and investment coordination within the European Transport Corridors and full deployment of ERTMS on the entire network by 2040.The Trans-European Transport Network(TEN-T)e.Revision of the EUs MFF 2021-2027In June 2023,the European Commission presented its

192、 mid-term revision of its Multiannual Financial Framework(MFF).Among the key elements of the review,the Commission presented a Proposal to establish a Ukraine Facility with a budget of 50 billion,which is designed to support Ukraine reconstruction and modernisation in its aspirations to prepare for

193、EU accession.Observing the vital role that rail is playing during these critical times,and the importance of strengthening EU-Ukraine rail connections,rail investments should feature prominently in this new Facility.UNIFE is advocating for rail related investments(be it for freight and passenger tra

194、nsport)in infrastructure,rolling stock(including freight and passenger locomotives),and signalling(including in ERTMS)to be considered as priority support within the Investment Plan that Ukraine will prepare with the European Commission,and which will be supported through the upcoming Facility.In ad

195、dition,UNIFE participated at the EU-Ukraine Business Dialogue organised by the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations(DG NEAR)in Brussels.During the meeting,UNIFE expressed to the European Commission and the Ukrainian representatives our support to the sustainable reconst

196、ruction of Ukraine and our sectors priorities in terms of rail related investments and the procurement associated to it.32UNIFE Annual Report 2023Dominique Riquet(MEP),Matthias Ruete(EU ERTMS Coordinator),Herald Ruijters(DG MOVE,European Commission),Philippe Citron(Director General,UNIFE)f.Basel III

197、 reformsAs part of a broader coalition,UNIFE has been advocating on a prudent revision of the Capital Requirements Regulation(CRR3),which was proposed by the European Commission in October 2021 in the context of the banking package regarding Basel III.Pending the official publication on the Official

198、 Journal of the EU and following the provisional agreement reached by co-legislators in June 2023,the two main issues identified by the Rail Supply Industry have been addressed in the right direction.Notably,the calibration of the Credit Conversion Factor for trade finance products,and the transitor

199、y measures on High Quality Object Finance Risk Weight Asset will allow the financing of rail projects at reasonable costs a key element to accomplish the EU Green Deal objectives.On 20th September,Rail Forum Europe,with the support of UNIFE,organised a breakfast briefing at the European Parliament i

200、n Brussels to take stock of the on-going revision of the EU MFF,and plan for the future so as to ensure proper EU funding for rail.The event was hosted by the Chairman of Rail Forum Europe,MEP Andrey Novakov(BG)and counted with high-level key note speeches from MEP Dominique Riquet(FR)and Herald Rui

201、jters,Deputy Director General at DG MOVE.During the discussion,speakers reflected on the importance of the on-going negotiations on the revision of the TEN-T Regulation,debated on the numerous funding opportunities for rail within the current budgetary cycle and the challenges associated to them.g.E

202、U State Aid rules As announced in the European Commissions Action Plan to boost cross border and long-distance passenger rail published in 2021,the Commission is aiming at“clarifying by 2023 the State aid rules on public funding of interoperable rolling stock for cross-border services in the revised

203、 Railway Guidelines”.At the time of writing this report,the so-called revision was not yet finalised;nevertheless,on April 2023,the European Commission adopted the State aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework to further support transition towards net-zero economy in line with the Green Deal I

204、ndustrial Plan.In particular,the new Framework increases the amounts of aid that can be paid without first informing the European executive and now includes a section relating to investment aid“for the acquisition of clean vehicles or zero-emission vehicles and for the adaptation retrofitting vehicl

205、es”.Aid for micro-enterprises and SMEs to meet the additional costs of energy prices also includes,subject to conditions,the list of exceptions to notifications.02.European Affairs33 h.Engagement with financial institutions to mobilize financing for railDuring 2023,UNIFE successfully organised sever

206、al sessions with representatives of European financial institutions to leverage private sector financing for rail,and to better understand concrete products and services that these institutions can offer to the benefit of the rail sector.The sessions included:European Investment Bank(EIB):session or

207、ganised on JASPERS(Joint Assistance to Support Projects in European Regions),which provides support to cities and regions deliver high-quality projects Crdit Agricole(CACIB):session organised on the revision of Basel III paying particular attention on the issues affecting the financing of rail vehic

208、les KfW IPEX-Bank:session organised on tailor made products and services for land base transportation including rail6.Public Procurement in EuropeGiven the importance of public procurement spending in the EU,which totals approximately 14%of GDP(2 trillion per year)by over 250.000 public authorities,

209、(with the vast majority of rail and urban transport operators being public authorities),public procurement is by far the predominant and most common process for funding rail projects in Europe.Moreover,taking into account the various funding and investment opportunities for rail in the EU,(e.g.the N

210、ational Recovery Plans(NRPs)and other sources of EU funding)UNIFE remains committed to ensure that funding dedicated to rail should be spent in the best possible way and tied to the European Unions public procurement framework principles.This should ensure fair competition between suppliers and esta

211、blish an approach in rail procurement that focuses on best value,rather than on price criteria only.UNIFE has continued to stress the importance of strengthening the rules on abnormally low tenders and the more profuse acceptance of the Most Economically Advantageous Tender(MEAT)principle.These are

212、of particular importance given increasing budget constraints linked to the ongoing economic and energy crisis on the one hand,and the greater activity from non-European,state-owned enterprises(SOEs)that are shielded from normal market competition on the other hand.UNIFE took the opportunity to speak

213、 in May about strategic European public procurement at the Middle East Rail Conference in Abu Dhabi,and at the Train and Rail Conference in Stockholm,highlighting the need to foster successful rail investments attached to specific legal provisions(MEAT principle).Ana Manuelito(Public Affairs Manager

214、,UNIFE)delivering a speech on EU public procurement at the Middle East Rail Conference 2023 in Abu Dhabi34UNIFE Annual Report 2023Discussions have continued within the UNIFE membership throughout 2023 to define the next joint steps and actions to further promote the MEAT principle towards the EU ins

215、titutions,Member States/Contracting Authorities and the railway community,including to build on the UNIFE/CER/EIM Recommendation to apply the Most Economically Advantageous Tender(MEAT)&Good practices in the domain of railway procurement.Additionally,during 2023,UNIFE updated its contribution to

216、 the interactive map on the activity of third country state-owned enterprises in the European procurement market.This map,created with the European Construction Industry Federation(FIEC),European International Contractors(EIC),and the European Dredging Association(EuDA),displays all projects in whic

217、h third country SOEs have tendered since 2009 in the construction,dredging and rail supply sectors.The update confirms that the interest of third country SOEs in the European public procurement market has kept growing significantly in recent years.Lastly,in 2023,UNIFE co-chaired two meetings of the

218、AEGIS Europe alliances Working Group on Public Procurement,which gathers several industry associations driven by common interests and challenges on the field.Along with UNIFE,AEGIS Europe continues its efforts to promote the European public procurement framework towards the European institutions and

219、 individual Member States.UNIFE/CER/EIM Recommendation to apply the Most Economically Advantageous Tender(MEAT)&Good practices in the domain of railway procurementUNIFE Factsheet explaining the PFAS restriction proposal02.European Affairs35 International Affairs03.1.Organisation for Economic Co-

220、operation and Development(OECD).382.International Procurement Instrument .413.Foreign Subsidies Regulation.424.Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.445.EUs Foreign Direct Investment Screening Regulation.456.Free Trade Agreements.467.Bilateral cooperation with third countries.478.European Global Gatewa

221、y.481.Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD)2023 was a milestone year for the European Rail Supply Industry with the publication of the awaited OECD(Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development)trade policy paper titled Measuring distortions in international markets T

222、he rolling-stock value chain in February.This report helps shed light on the magnitude and the manner in which governments subsidise the rolling stock manufacturers that they deem as strategic,with a view to informing efforts to revisit global trade rules.It also highlights that government support t

223、o rolling stock manufacturers is raising concerns about possible market distortions and unfair competition.Over the period 2016-2020,governments provided about$5 billion to the sector,much of it in the form of government grants and income tax concessions.While not quantified,discriminatory practices

224、 in government procurement and competition enforcement,forced technology transfers,as well as non-market export credits may have also distorted global competition in the rail supply industry.In the report,it is notably stated that“CRRC obtained as much as 72%of all absolute support”(through grants,t

225、ax concessions,below market borrowings,etc.),and that CRRC obtained“tax support of more than$400 million in 2020 alone”.38UNIFE Annual Report 2023Throughout the year,UNIFE has been communicating about this important policy paper towards the EU institutions and key-stakeholders in a number of occasio

226、ns,both in Europe and beyond.The report has been showcased during the 2023 UNIFE General Assembly by the Trade and Agriculture Directorate of OECD.UNIFE is confident that the policy paper will provide a credible and substantiated case for distortions in international competition,be useful in advocac

227、y activities and will support the potential use of EUs trade autonomous tools.Jehan Sauvage(Policy Analyst,OECD),Sabine Schneider(Head of Talent Management,Siemens Mobility),Lucian Cernat(Head of the Regulatory Cooperation and Public Procurement Unit,European Commission Directorate-General for Trade

228、),Augusto Mensi(Member of the UNIFE Presiding Board,and CEO Lucchini RS),Lorena Ionita,(Deputy Head of Unit Mobility,DG GROW,European Commission),Nick Kingsley(Executive Editor Railway Gazette)The OECD is also a forum for maintaining,developing and monitoring the financial disciplines for export cre

229、dits,which are contained within the Arrangement on Officially Supported Export Credits(“the Arrangement”).Over the years,UNIFE has been advocating to undertake a comprehensive reform of the Arrangement,in order to level the playing field in terms of export finance vis-a-vis countries which are not p

230、art of the Arrangement.In July 2023,Participants agreed a revamped and modernised text.In a nutshell,the Arrangement will allow longer repayment terms(up to 22 years)that are consistent with the useful life of the exported goods and services.Even longer repayment terms and financial structuring flex

231、ibility will be available for a broader range of climate-friendly transactions,including rail related ones,that are not covered under the Climate Change Sector 03.International Affairs39 Understanding(CCSU).UNIFE also had the pleasure to host the OECD Secretariat team in charge of export credits to

232、exchange and better understand the implications for rail in this new modernisation of the policy.Furthermore,as a Member of Business at OECD(BIAC),UNIFE has also collaborated in the preparation of a new position paper titled:Building on the momentum for a more fit-for-purpose OECD Arrangement.The pa

233、per highlights proposals by BIAC on the OECD Arrangement post-modernisation discussions on payment and credit terms,including a key priority for the Rail Supply Industry relating to the renewal of the Common Line of Procedure for down-payments.European Export Credit Strategy/FacilityThe European Com

234、mission is now exploring options for an EU Export Credit Strategy.In 2023,the Feasibility Study on an EU Strategy on Export Credits,which was commissioned by DG TRADE was published.UNIFE and its Members have had the opportunity to interact and engage during the preparation of this study communicatin

235、g their challenges and priorities in terms of export credits.These challenges could be addressed by an EU Export Credit Strategy that would on one hand alleviate the export finance bottlenecks experienced in the EU,and on the other level the playing field for EU businesses by broadening their access

236、 to opportunities afforded by other forms of official finance in supporting the EUs external agenda.40UNIFE Annual Report 20232.International Procurement Instrument The International Procurement Instrument(IPI)has been part of the EUs autonomous trade tools since August 2022,after several years of i

237、ntense discussions and negotiations.2023 marks the first year of its entry into force.Throughout the year,UNIFE has been monitoring closely its implementation phase,by supporting its members on navigating the Regulation and identifying possible avenues to manage.The IPI Regulation is of paramount im

238、portance for the European Rail Supply Industry as a way to improve reciprocity in non-EU markets in the area of public procurement,by removing unfair barriers and promoting fair competition worldwide.In fact,todays reality is underscored by strong political messages around unfair competition issues

239、as declared by President Ursula von der Leyen during the 2023 Annual State of the Union Address:“Competition is only true as long as it is fair.Too often,our companies are excluded from foreign markets,or are victims of predatory practices.They are often undercut by competitors benefiting from huge

240、state subsidies”During 2023,UNIFE has been engaging with the European institutions on a number of occasions,in order to exchange views regarding the IPI Regulation.Amongst them,the European Commission participated in the 2023 UNIFE General Assembly Roundtable“Competitiveness and Global Leadership of

241、 the EU Rail Supply Industry”,as well as on other technical-oriented discussions which proved to be extremely important during the implementation stage.Lucian Cernat,Head of the Regulatory Cooperation and Public Procurement Unit at the European Commission Directorate-General for Trade,highlighted in

242、 his remarks that“in the current context of growing protectionist tendencies in public procurement markets worldwide,the International Procurement Instrument is more important than ever to ensure a level-playing field for EU companies”.Lucian Cernat,Head of the Regulatory Cooperation and Public Proc

243、urement Unit,European Commission Directorate-General for Trade03.International Affairs41 Another trade instrument which was approved was the,which was an intense and fast-tracked legislative process.The law entered into force on 12 January 2023 and started being applied on 12 July of the same year.I

244、t began on 12 October,when the reporting obligations to notify financial contributions in the context of public procurement procedures and takeovers were enabled.The Regulation would grant the European Commission the power to investigate financial contributions granted by non-EU governments to compa

245、nies active on the European market.If such financial contributions constitute distortive subsidies,the European Commission could impose redressive measures.3.Foreign Subsidies RegulationJonathan Nguyen(Head of Public Affairs,UNIFE)with Denis Redonnet(Deputy Director-General,Chief Trade Enforcement O

246、fficer,European Commission)42UNIFE Annual Report 2023On top of the Regulation,the European Commission opened a in March,asking to provide details regarding the rules applicable to proceedings conducted by the European Commission.UNIFE actively contributed to the public consultation,and had subsequen

247、t exchanges with the European institutions and relevant stakeholders,outlining the need to have further legal clarity on the scope of the instrument.Further to this,UNIFE outlined the need to have simplified reporting requirements for companies in the context of screening financial contributions.UNI

248、FE also participated in a number of public events to raise awareness of the main issues related to the European Rail Supply Industry,including a organised in Februaryby Oxera and Herbert Smith Freehills,as well as the Conference organised in June by Informa.UNIFE and its members will keep monitoring

249、 its implementation and full application,which now needs to pass the practice test,in order to benefit of the European Rail Supply Industry.Ana Manuelito(Public Affairs Manager,UNIFE)with Jani Ringborg(Legal Service State Aid Team,European Commission)03.International Affairs43 UNIFE and its trade al

250、liance AEGIS Europe have been active in the legislative process of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism(CBAM).The law was adopted by the co-legislators in May of this year,with application beginning later in October.The CBAM is now under its transitional period until December 2025,during which eco

251、nomic operators are requested to submit reports to the European Commission in regards to emissions embedded in their imports,subject to the mechanism without paying any financial adjustment.The full CBAM deployment will take place early 2026.UNIFE will keep on working on the CBAM,with the European C

252、ommission set to present by end of 2025 an impact assessment,in particular with a view to extend the scope of the CBAM,after the transition period.UNIFE has been emphasising its support of the stated objective to establish a level-playing field on carbon content and to avoid carbon leakage,but also

253、has highlighted the significant risks for the competitiveness of downstream industries,such as the rail supply industry.The CBAM should be applied to the emissions of the complete product value chain,before such product is imported into the EU.Finished products,such as rail rolling stock and equipme

254、nt,should have the possibility of being included in the CBAM as soon as possible in order not to create distortions.4.Carbon Border Adjustment MechanismCEMENT IRON-&-STEEL ALUMINIUM FERTILISER HYDROGEN ELECTRICITYEuropean Commissions proposal on Carbon Border Adjustment MechanismIn its first pha

255、se,the CBAM will focus on goods most at the risk of carbon leakage:44UNIFE Annual Report 20235.EUs Foreign Direct Investment Screening RegulationThe EUs Foreign Direct Investment(FDI)Screening Regulation was adopted in 2019 as a means to foster Member States to further evaluate foreign investments/n

256、on-EU related to security and public order,particularly when it comes to critical infrastructure.This Regulation is of particular importance for the European Rail Supply Industry since over the past years,the foreign direct investment has significantly increased,and the rail sector has been identifi

257、ed by several countries as a strategic sector.In October 2023,the European Commission released its Third Annual Report on the screening of foreign direct investments into the Union,which outlined that one of the main sectors of interest to foreign investors is Transport.More concretely,investments i

258、n equity stakes grew substantially in the Transport sector(+24%)in 2022,experiencing a positive trend in the post-COVID period with an increase of 40,9%compared to 2020.During the summer,the European Commission launched a public consultation in view of evaluating and reviewing the EUs Foreign Direct

259、 Investment Screening Regulation.UNIFE has contributed with a number of recommendations.For instance,UNIFE stressed the need to implement and promote convergence of FDI mechanisms across all Member States,including screening obligations for“critical infrastructure”and“critical technologies”concernin

260、g the transportation sector.The European Commission also published a revised Regulation proposal in December,and UNIFE will keep on actively participating in the debate and advocating these positions together with its members towards EU decision-makers.UNIFEs feedback to the EUs FDI Screening Regula

261、tion03.International Affairs45 The European Rail Supply Industry is a strategic and leading economic industry for Europe,and its world leadership strongly depends on the ability of companies to access new markets.Free Trade Agreements(FTA)matter as they encompass a number of innovative provisions,an

262、d offer opportunities to reduce tariffs while addressing barriers and discriminatory requirements.As such,they can be beneficial for the entire supply chain(e.g.local content requirements).Yet,according to the 2022 UNIFE World Rail Market Study,worldwide rail market accessibility has declined over t

263、he last decade from around 70%in 2008 to 61%in 2022.Market access issues and non-tariff trade barriers remain significant,and this situation stands in sharp contrast with the EU,where the public procurement market is one of the most open and transparent in the world.During 2023,UNIFE continued to wo

264、rk with the European Commission,especially DG TRADE,in order to keep the debate high on the agenda regarding key markets in which European rail suppliers still face a number of trade barriers,especially in Japan and South Korea.UNIFE also continues to work with the European Commission by providing i

265、nputs in the context of current negotiations of free trade agreements,focusing in particular on the government procurement chapters,with the objective of boosting the presence of European rail suppliers in third-country markets.In 2023,special attention was given to trade negotiations with Thailand

266、and India.Moreover,UNIFE monitors the legislative process and entry into force of other free trade agreements,such as the ones with Chile,Mexico,New Zealand and MERCOSUR(Argentina,Brazil,Uruguay and Paraguay)and provides intel on their development to its members.6.Free Trade AgreementsRelaunch of th

267、e EU-Thailand Free Trade Agreement Negotiations,March 202346UNIFE Annual Report 2023Bilateral cooperation with third countries remains one of UNIFEs priorities.Throughout 2023,UNIFE had the opportunity to exchange and meet with several partners across the globe.In March,UNIFE participated in a panel

268、 discussion“Regional trains as an integration and mobility solution”,organised during the NT Expo Congress the main rail event in Latin America-along with its counterparts the Brazilian Association of the Railroad Suppliers(ABIFER)and the Latin American Railway Association(ALAF).UNIFE had the opport

269、unity to share the European experience in delivering regional trains solutions,and outlining the main market prospects for the railway sector in Latin America.Further cooperation with Latin-American counterparts remains high on our agenda.In October,UNIFE had the pleasure of again meeting its North

270、American partners Railway Supply Institute(RSI),Canadian Association of Railway Suppliers(CARS),and the Mexican Association of Railroads(AMF)during the Railway Interchange Conference that took place in October in the US.The four organisations discussed topics of common interest related to trade,in p

271、articular public procurement and global competition during the session“International Collaboration to Support a Thriving Rail Supply Chain”.Given the challenges to overcome,many of them going beyond international borders,it is of paramount importance to maintain such good collaboration and join forc

272、es with UNIFEs partners worldwide.7.Bilateral cooperation with third countriesAna Manuelito(Public Affairs Manager,UNIFE),Sylvia Newell(President,CARS),Iker de Lusa Plazas(Director General,AMF),and Patricia Long(President,RSI)03.International Affairs47 8.European Global GatewayGlobal Gateway is the

273、EUs contribution to narrowing the global investment gap worldwide,with a mobilisation of 300 bn investments up to 2027.It is in line with the commitment of the G7 leaders from June 2021 to launch a values-driven,high-standard and transparent infrastructure partnership to meet global infrastructure d

274、evelopment needs.Since its establishment,UNIFE has been insisting on the need to articulate rail projects in EU third partner countries,in order to promote the EU Green Deal outside of the EU.Over the last 12 months,several milestones have taken place in this regard:Global Gateway Business Advisory

275、Group:Together with 59 other organisations,UNIFE has been selected by the European Commission to become a member of the Global Gateway Business Advisory Group.The new group gathers CEOs or senior executives of European companies and business associations.It will assist the European Commission in pro

276、moting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the Global Gateway Forum 2023 48UNIFE Annual Report 2023cooperation with the European private sector,as part of the implementation of the Global Gateway strategy and the scaling up of Global Gateway flagships.The Global Gateway Forum 2023,

277、attended by UNIFE,was organised in Brussels on 25-26 October.The Forum brought together over 40 high-level government representatives,financial institutions and business representatives to discuss the worlds investment needs,debate solutions and seal new deals.During the Forum,UNIFE Director General

278、 Philippe Citron had the opportunity to discuss with Jutta Urpilainen,the EU Commissioner in charge of International Partnership and,DG INTPAs Director General Koen Doens to convey UNIFEs support for Global Gateway and its rail and urban mobility flagship projects.Global Gateway Flagship projects an

279、d activities:In 2023,the European Commission approved further Global Gateway projects across different continents.Thanks to UNIFEs advocacy,rail projects are now featuring more prominently in the different regions,compared to the initial proposal presented in 2022.Another example of Global Gateway f

280、unded activities completed,is the Study on sustainable transport connections with Central Asia carried out by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development(EBRD).The study identifies 33 hard infrastructure investment needs across the region,including for rail infrastructure and rolling stock,

281、as well as seven coordinated actions on soft connectivity measures.These are all specific,concrete and realistic actions which can contribute to the competitiveness and operational efficiency of the trans-Caspian transport connections between the five relevant Central Asian countries and Europe.03.I

282、nternational Affairs49 Standards and Regulation04.1.Overview.522.2023s key developments in rail standards and regulations.523.UNIFE Technical Working Groups.584.UNITEL:Rail Telecommunication Activities.625.Cybersecurity activities/Cyber Working Group.63a.The 2023 Technical Specifications for Interop

283、erability Revision PackageThis year saw the conclusion of the 2023 TSI Revision Package with the positive vote by Member States achieved during the 98th meeting of the European Commissions Railway Interoperability and Safety Committee(RISC)held 29-30 March 2023.The RISC vote concluded over three yea

284、rs of extensive collective work of the various actors in drafting this TSI revision package and consultation with the European Union Agency for Railways and the European Commission.The 2023 TSI revision package was subsequently published on 8 September,and entered into force on 28 September 2023.As

285、the official representative body for the European rail supply industry,UNIFE coordinates the contributions and position of its members towards the development of regulations,decisions,guidelines and other documents drafted by the European Union Agency for Railways(ERA)and the European Commission(EC)

286、.The UNIFE Standards and Regulation Group(SRG)and its supporting UNIFE technical working groups are platforms for members to influence technical regulationsthatrelatetothe interoperability and safety of the European railway system.UNIFE has actively participated in numerous working parties and group

287、s organised by the European institutions to support the drafting of the aforementioned outputs.The SRG plays a pivotal role in coordinating UNIFEs technical stances on the implementation of the EUs 2016 Fourth Railway Package(4RP)and 2023 Technical Specifications for Interoperability(TSIs)Revision P

288、ackage.SRG also interacts with other rail associations,such as CER,EIM,UIP and NB-Rail,as well as other stakeholders in Europes rail sector through participation in the Group of Representative Bodies(GRB)and the European Standardisation Organisations(ESO)-particularly,CEN and CENELEC-through the Sec

289、tor Forum Rail(SFR).As an observer on both the ERA Management Board and ERA Executive Board,UNIFE Director General Philippe Citron regularly attends these meetings to express the rail supply industrys position on important topics,such as ERAs annual work programme and ongoing activities supporting t

290、he 4RPs implementation.1.Overview2.2023s key developments in rail standards and regulations52UNIFE Annual Report 2023b.Implementation of the Fourth Railway Packages Technical PillarThe 4RPs Technical Pillar,comprised of the recast Interoperability and Safety Directives and the ERA Regulation,entered

291、 into force in June 2016.Following the transposition of the measures by EU Member States,the Technical Pillar and its new vehicle authorisation regime entered into operation on 16 June 2019,and has been in force since 31 October 2020 in all Member States.Our association strongly supported the Techni

292、cal Pillars adoption,which we see as of paramount importance for the rail industrys competitiveness,as it aims to remove the remaining technical barriers to the creation of a Single European Rail Area(SERA).A harmonised European authorisation process ran by the ERA should see a convergence and great

293、er certainty of requirements,leading to a more consistent,quicker and cheaper vehicle authorisation process with less duplication of checks and testing.Since 16 June 2019,ERA has acted as a European authorising entity and delivered over 5700 vehicle authorisation decisions-representing over 64,000 a

294、uthorised rail vehicles.With now over four years of experience in operation,the time has come to review the new processes based on the feedback and return of experience of UNIFE members.Together with all stakeholders from the railway sector and the National Safety Authorities(NSAs),activities have b

295、een launched to review the newly implemented system and define recommendations from all involved stakeholders on how to optimise the new processes and achieve the targeted cost and time saving goals.This review is led by 4RP Steering Group,of which UNIFE is member and has provided the detailed feedb

296、ack from the European rail supply industry,including during the resulting ERA Vehicle Authorisation Advisory Groups held over the first half of 2023.These activities are followed closely by the UNIFE Vehicle Authorisation Mirror Group,as the key UNIFE group to exchange on the 4RP authorisation proce

297、ss.The package introduces significant changes that will impact all future rail subsystems,as well as subsystems currently subject to ongoing projects.The 2023 TSI Revision Package addressed the“Digital rail and Green freight”TSI revision mandate given by the EC to ERA in January 2020,which is intend

298、ed to align the TSIs contents with the ECs high-level policy goals.UNIFE attended all ERA TSI Working Party and Topical Working Group(TWG)meetings held in 2023 during the finalisation of the TSI recommendation to RISC,as well as the meetings following the RISC vote to update the TSI Application Guid

299、es based on the changes contained in the voted texts.Over the past few years,UNIFE has adapted its internal consultation processes with its committees and technical working groups to follow and contribute to the new revision and structure within ERA.Within our association,the Working Party on the re

300、vision of TSIs is followed by the SRG,which coordinates the rail supply industrys response,nominates experts within the TWGs and cooperates with the other UNIFE committees when appropriate.The activities of each TWG,where the detailed TSI revision proposals are developed,have been consulted by a com

301、bination of the existing UNIFE technical working groups depending on the change request subject.UNIFEs goal is to ensure that the necessary evolution of the technical regulation and standards framework is carried out in a way that will improve the competitiveness of the European Rail Supply Industry

302、,support the harmonisation and transparency of technical rules in Europe,while also facilitating the development and authorisation of rail products.04.Standards and Regulation53 Vehicle authorisation harmonisation under Fourth Railway Package-Source ERAc.European Commission Expert Group on the Techn

303、ical Pillar of the Fourth Railway Package UNIFE is a permanent member of the ECs Expert Group on the Technical Pillar of the Fourth Railway Package,alongside Member State and other official sectoral representative bodies.This group is intended to consult the sector on legislation to be voted on,give

304、 recommendations on draft texts and to help prepare discussions and votes to be held in the Railway Interoperability and Safety Committee(RISC).This Expert Group is intended to complement-but not replace-the RISC,which only allows Member State representatives to vote on the final Implementing Acts.F

305、ive meetings of the EC Expert Group on the Fourth Railway Package were held in 2023,with the first two focused on the European Commissions consultation on the 2023 TSI Revision Package texts,including the TSI on Control Command and Signalling(CCS)prior to the scheduled vote by the 98th RISC in March

306、 2023.The final two meetings were focused on the Commissions revision of the TSI regarding telematic applications.UNIFE took the opportunity to raise our positions on the priority change proposals within the concerned TSIs to support the competitiveness of the European railway sector and its supply

307、industry.d.UNIFE High-Level Dialogue with DG MOVE,ERA and Europes Rail Joint Undertaking on the Implementation of the Technical Pillar of the Fourth Railway PackageUNIFE has established a high-level dialogue between the European Commission(DG MOVEs Directorate C),ERA and Europes Rail Joint Undertaki

308、ng management teams and UNIFE members at the CTO level on the implementation of the Technical Pillar of the Fourth Railway Package.This high-level forum 54UNIFE Annual Report 2023continued in 2023,where discussions covered the final developments of the 2023 TSI Revision Package,the latest feedback o

309、n the 4RP vehicle authorisation process,as well as starting to look forward to the future regulatory developments beyond 2023,such as regarding cybersecurity and FRMCS introduction.For the future evolution of the technical framework after the 2023 TSI Revision Package completion,UNIFE introduced our

310、 Vision Paper on the Evolution of Regulation,Standardisation and Innovation for a Competitive European Rail Supply Industry.Published in October 2022,it explained our vision for how to ensure its balanced,streamlined and stable evolution going forward.Following multiple revisions of the TSIs in rece

311、nt years,UNIFE is calling for better regulatory stability to enable contracts and projects to be delivered smoothly via sufficient transitional provisions and to establish a predictable and transparent evolution of the technical framework in the years to come for the sector.In 2023,this UNIFE Vision

312、 Paper has acted as a baseline for our technical lobby activities and overall objectives in the coming years for the Technical Specifications for Interoperability,and their link to the standardisation and research and innovation domains.The goal is to ensure the future technical framework evolutions

313、 to support the European rail supply industry to thrive both at home and internationally,while increasing the competitiveness and market share of rail transport in support of the European Green Deal objectives.MEETING MINUTES UNIFE Vision Paper on the Evolution of Regulation,Standardisation and Inno

314、vation for a Competitive European Rail Supply Industry 18 October 2022 UNIFE Vision Paper on the Evolution of Regulation,Standardisation and Innovation for a Competitive European Rail Supply Industrye.Cooperation with the Group of Representative Bodies(GRB)As the official representative body for the

315、 European rail supply industry,UNIFE is a member of the Group of Representative Bodies(GRB).The GRB is a group of European railway associations tasked with supporting the sectors consultations with the European Union Agency for Railways(ERA),as it undertakes its work programme and its activities on

316、rail safety and interoperability.The GRB has continued to be highly active throughout 2023,with particular focus paid to the revision of the TSIs and return of experience of the process to build upon for future activities.The strong GRB cooperation has resulted in a number of joint positions relatin

317、g to regulation and standardisation being expressed in consultation forums or jointly submitted to the EC,ERA and Member State representatives over the past year.Since January 2019,Christian Rausch,member of UNIFEs Standards and Regulation Group(SRG),has also served as the GRBs Chair for a two-year

318、mandate including this year acting under his third mandate for 2023/24.For further information on GRB,please visit www.grbrail.eu04.Standards and Regulation55 f.UNIFEs involvement in StandardisationStandardisation is extremely important for our industry,leading many UNIFE members to be involved in b

319、oth European and global standardisation proceedings through their respective national bodies.UNIFE provides a platform for its members to coordinate their standardisation advocacy and build consensus on our industrys priorities in this area.UNIFEs Standards and Regulation Group(SRG)is responsible fo

320、r monitoring developments in both regulation and standardisation within the technical framework applicable to rail products.The careful coordination of activities in both areas is required to ensure that the work carried out by European institutions and European Standardisation Organisations is comp

321、lementary and improves the rail sectors functioning and competitiveness.To support the efforts of its members at the national level,UNIFE has established close links with relevant European Standardisation Organisations(ESOs),namely CEN and CENELEC.Our association works closely with the Commission,wh

322、o sets the policy framework for European level standardisation,and the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre,which coordinates the activities of both organisations.UNIFE is a member of the Topical Working Group on Standardisation(TWG STA)at ERA,which is the key platform for updating the regulated link betwe

323、en the TSIs and the European Standards,responsible for updating the reference to over 100 standards during the 2023 TSI Revision Package.UNIFE participates in Sector Forum Rail(SFR)which facilitates discussions between the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre and representative bodies on the sectors standa

324、rdisation priorities,in addition to the Rail Standardisation Coordination Platform for Europe(RASCOP)established by the European Commission.By using these forums,UNIFE aims to influence the EC,ERA and ESOs to deliver an efficient technical framework with a lean interface between regulation and stand

325、ardisation.Once again,UNIFEs 2022 Vision Paper on the Evolution of Regulation,Standardisation and Innovation for a Competitive European Rail Supply Industry acted as a baseline for our objectives in standardisation in the forums mentioned.Thierry Breton(EU Commissioner for Internal Market)during the

326、 EU High-Level Forum on European Standardisation56UNIFE Annual Report 2023g.Urban Rail PlatformIn 2023,UNIFE has relaunched our cooperation with urban transport operators on standardisation through the Urban Rail Platform,a forum driven by UNIFE and the International Association of Public Transport(

327、UITP).The platform aims to support standardisation in urban rail and provide its members with a forum for discussing additional matters related to regulation and Research and Innovation(R&I).In 2023,the URP Standardisation Subgroup was also reactivated to identify potential new standardisation a

328、ctivities by analysing the existing urban rail standardisation works at CEN-CENELEC and consider where gaps and opportunities exist.For more information on Standards and Regulation,please contact UNIFE Technical Affairs Manager Nicholas Shrimpton at nicholas.shrimptonunife.orgAt the global level,UNI

329、FE holds A-Liaison status for the International Standardisation Organisations(ISO)Rail Technical Committee 269(ISO TC 269).This enables us to take part in the committees regular meetings.Finally,in 2023 UNIFE became a member of the European Commissions High-Level Forum on European Standardisation,se

330、t up by DG GROW(European Commissions Directorate for Internal Market,Industry,Entrepreneurship and SMEs)and chaired by Thierry Breton,the EU Commissioner for Internal Market of the European Union,as part of the EU Strategy on Standardisation.The purpose of the forum,which is at its second consultati

331、on,is to identify standardisation priorities in support of EU policies and legislation,and discuss horizontal issues such as international leadership,education and skills and pre-normative challenges,in a multi-sectoral setting.04.Standards and Regulation57 The UNIFE Technical Working Groups support

332、 the associations work on standardisation,regulation and research.The overall coordination is done by the associations committees responsible.There are two types of Technical Working Groups at UNIFE:UNIFE Mirror Groups(MG)are groups which are primarily active during the drafting andheymirrorERAswork

333、ing parties or topical working groups,where UNIFE delegates participate as official representatives of the European rail supply industry UNIFE Topical Groups(TG)follow specific topics,mainly related to standardisation and research activitiesThe UNIFE SRG supervises the UNIFE Technical Working Groups and periodically reviews their activities to ensure that they operate in line with ouroverallstandards and regulation objectives.3.UNIFE Technical Working Groupsa)UNIFE Mirror Groups(MG)Electromagnetic Compatibility Wor