1.
We ensure that our infrastructure meets people’s desire for mobility. We want Europe to be a leader in integrated transport systems. The enormous opportunities offered by digitization will lead to the emergence of completely new mobility concepts in the future – which must also be used in the interests of climate protection. For the CDU and CSU, long-distance rail passenger transport that covers as many areas as possible is indispensable for Europe’s attractiveness as a business location and for climate protection.
2.
We are committed to fair conditions of competition between the various modes of transport. In concrete terms, for example, we are endeavouring to reduce train track access fees in order to reduce costs and increase the competitiveness of rail transport.
3.
In the liberalisation of the European rail transport market, we are committed to uniform European regulations. This applies in particular to technical provisions. Safety and quality requirements must be standardised as far as possible throughout Europe. We must also ensure fair conditions of competition. We welcome the fact that, from 2020, all railway operators in the EU will be given the right to offer commercial rail transport services throughout the EU.
4.
In principle, we welcome the provision of a wide range of services for travellers throughout Europe. From our point of view, this includes a Europe-wide, self-supporting service for day and night trains. We are committed to ensuring that the different national rail networks in Europe will be linked even more closely.
5.
Our goal is smooth and high-quality cross-border freight and passenger transport for people and companies. Various steps are needed to achieve this. Although the national high-speed networks have been expanded, different track gauges, signalling systems and voltages continue to hamper cross-border rail traffic. That is why we are committed to the creation of common standards (“interoperability”) on the way to full technical harmonisation. There is also a need for better coordination of the allocation of routes between EU Member States. Finally, we need strong and independent regulatory authorities in all EU countries and transparent rules for calculating track access fees. We support the development and expansion of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) at national level, not least through the measures of the Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan [“Bundesverkehrswegeplan“] 2030.
6.
In order to realise the vision of a Europe-wide rail network, the various national rail systems must be more closely interlinked. Accordingly, Europe-wide standards must be introduced, also with regard to passenger rights.
7.
7.1.
7.2.
We are committed to the rapid implementation of the Single European Sky. This would not only strengthen the competitiveness and safety of European air transport and its major hubs. At the same time, it would make a significant contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. European rules for airports (such as ground handling services, noise abatement measures) must leave room for regional and local specificities; aid schemes must also take into account the economic importance of regional airports. We want to make greater use of market-based instruments for effective and efficient climate protection. This also includes a tangible price signal – as international and broadly based as possible – for greenhouse gas emissions.