1. Answer: It is important with rail traffic on a European level with infrastructure investments in rail. In Sweden, work is underway to prepare for the construction of new main routes for high speed trains. It is an important piece of the puzzle to be able to compete with air travel.
2. Answer: Support for more climate-friendly modes of transport consists of investing more in these modes of transport (mainly rail) than in roads and airports. We have also introduced a tax on air travel to pay a larger share of its costs. This needs to continue also at EU level.
3. Answer: The Swedish Government and the Social Democrats in the European Parliament voted for the fourth railway package at the final agreement in 2016. However, we had opened up our market in Sweden before the EU decision, so criticism of liberalization also relates to previous national decisions.
4. Answer: We support infrastructure investments and priorities made within the framework of the EU Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) and its co-financing through the Interconnected Europe Fund (CEF) to create a flow on the EU internal market. It is important that the EU funds go where they are most useful and that we build a transport network in the EU without bottlenecks. But in order for us to make rail more competitive than air travel, it is important that we work strategically and overall at the EU level with infrastructure investments, but also with strengthened passenger rights and simpler ticket systems.
5. Answer: It is positive that EU infrastructure projects and priorities are periodically evaluated to ensure that public funds only go where they are most effective. It is important that the EU funds go where they are most effective and that we build a transport network in the EU without bottlenecks. But in order for us to make rail travel more competitive than air travel, it is important that we work strategically and at the general EU level with infrastructure investments.
6. Answer: We support enhanced rail passenger rights because it is an important step in the change to make trains more competitive. A passenger must have the right to receive compensation for delays or canceled trains in the entire journey chain, even if it consists of several stages and several operators. Clearer definitions are also needed for exceptional circumstances, where we believe that weather is insufficient (except in very extreme weather conditions).
7.1 Answer: Taxation is a national competence within the EU and we want it to remain so. On the other hand, we have said that Sweden will take a leadership role in renegotiate the international agreements and conventions that prohibit taxation of fossil aviation fuel. When a system for aviation fuel tax is in place, it should replace the current Swedish ticket tax on air travel.
7.2 Answer: No, we do not support a strict ban. The best way to limit short distance flights is competitive alternatives.