RESOLUTION B3-1177, 1218, 1219, 1253, 1255 AND 1258/92

Resolution on proposals to abolish the Interrail scheme

The European Parliament,

-having regard to its opinion of 13 December 1990 on railwaysOJ No. C 19, 28.1.1991, p. 254 which called inter alia for a European railway policy supporting cheap, simple fares for young people,

A.whereas from 1972 onwards railway companies in more and more European countries (including all the Member States of the European Community) have promoted the Interrail scheme, which has enabled millions of young Europeans to get to know and to spread European culture in all its diversity,

B.having regard to the success of this programme, which every year offers about 300 000 young Europeans, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, a unique opportunity to travel and become acquainted with Europe,

C.whereas Interrail has been, and still is, a basic means of popularizing the European ideal,

D.noting with concern the desire expressed by railway companies in some Member States to withdraw from Interrail,

E.recognizing that the current system of distributing the proceeds from the Interrail scheme penalizes the countries of southern Europe, which cater for a higher number of users, but confirming at the same time that in any event this situation cannot justify the scrapping of the scheme,

F.voicing the concern expressed by many youth organizations, particularly the European Community Youth Forum,

G.stressing that the social value of the scheme should remain a priority when drawing up an efficient European railway policy,

1.Calls on the railway companies and authorities of the Member States to save Interrail;

2.Calls on the Community of European Railways and the other railway companies taking part in this system to reconsider the question of the division of finance and costs;

3.Emphasizes that revision of the criteria for distributing the proceeds from the Interrail scheme, however understandable, should not be detrimental to young rail users, either in terms of cost or as regards the size of the network;

4.Calls on the Commission, the Council and the governments of the Member States to ensure that the basic criteria governing the Interrail scheme are not swept away, as they provide an important boost to the ideal of European integration as well as a major incentive to use the train because it is safe, environment-friendly and energy-efficient;

5.Calls on the Commission to investigate to what extent such special fares can be supported, as part of the Community's transport and tourism policies, by financial measures and programmes on the part of the Community or the Member States;

6.Calls on the competent authorities to maintain the Interrail scheme until an alternative system which also benefits young people has been introduced;

7.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the governments of the Member States and countries in Interrail, the railway companies concerned and the Community of European Railways.