Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking

Key points

The EESC

• sees the S2R Joint Undertaking as a key contribution to safeguarding the European industry's leadership position in the strategic railway sector;
• draws particular attention to the importance of employment;
• believes that, as well as setting standards and adopting harmonisation measures, the EU must encourage a transnational framework for pooling efforts;
• considers however that additional funds must be added to the planned overall budget - EUR 920 million - since achieving S2R's ambitious objectives will require investment of an estimated total of EUR 1.4 billion;
• highlights the importance of S2R to maintaining the competitiveness of the European railway equipment and services industry and considers that, by dint of innovation, SMEs will also play a key role in S2R

Other relevant EESC opinions:

• Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (CESE 1166/2011 - INT/583)
• Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (CESE 484/2008 - INT/386)
• Clean Sky Joint Undertaking (CESE 1443/2007 - INT/369)
• ENIAC Joint Undertaking (CESE 1444/2007 - INT/370)
• Joint undertaking to develop the new generation European air traffic management system (SESAR) (CESE 1917/2008 - TEN/358)

For more information please contact the INT Section Secretariat.