The European Railway Industry Association (UNIFE) is calling on the European Union (EU) and its member states to strengthen regulation and monitoring of non-European competitors, particularly state-owned companies such as CRRC. In view of the undesirable effects of foreign subsidies, as recently seen in Portugal and Austria, UNIFE is insisting on systematic monitoring and adaptation of the Foreign Subsidy Regulation (FSR). The industry expects procedures to be simplified, loopholes to be closed and the reporting requirements for public contracts to be reduced in order to better cover urban transport projects. In addition, UNIFE is calling for a tendering practice that focuses on life-cycle costs and European value creation, particularly in the strategically security-relevant field of railway technology. In order to reduce costs and maintain competitiveness, UNIFE advocates harmonisation, interoperability and economies of scale for rolling stock and emphasises the need for clear, transparent framework conditions for fair market conditions.
