RIA joins key EU Commission Expert Group for rail supply
The Railway Industry Association (RIA) has been appointed as a member of the EU Commission’s
Expert Group on the competitiveness of the rail supply industry.
The Expert Group was developed
following a resolution from the European Parliament and will look to:
- Evaluate the challenges faced by the EU Rail Supply Industry (RSI) at the international level
- Determine what is necessary for the RSI to maintain its global leadership;
- Analyse the competitive needs of the RSI in research and innovation, digitisation, investment,
access to finance and skills;
- Analyse the competitive needs of the RSI in areas other than the ones mentioned in point 3
above;
- Address aspects of public procurement related to the European market.
RIA will represent the UK rail supply industry at upcoming meetings of the Group - with the first on 10
April 2018 - ensuring the expertise and views of the industry are shared with the Commission and
international counterparts. RIA will work closely within the Group until the UK formally leaves the EU
on 29 March 2019.
In response, Damian Testa, Policy Manager at the Railway Industry Association said:
“It is vital that the UK rail industry continues to engage with EU policy and the international rail
industry. We are therefore delighted to be accepted as a member of this new Expert Group which will
ensure that the views of contractors, manufacturers, consultants and the whole UK industry are heard
and shared – for the benefit of both UK and European railways.
“As we prepare to leave the EU, our relationship with Commission will, of course, change. We hope
this Group will be a platform to discuss some of the opportunities and challenges of Brexit for both
the UK and European supply chain, including standards, trade, skills access and future trade deals.”
Notes to Editors
- Information on the EU Commission Expert Group on the competitiveness of the rail supply
industry can be found here.
- About RIA: The Railway Industry Association (RIA) is the trade association for UK-based suppliers
to the UK and world-wide railways. It has some 200 companies in membership, in a growing
industry with the number of rail journeys expected to double over the next 25 years and freight
set to grow significantly too. RIA’s membership is active across the whole of railway supply,
covering a diverse range of products and services and including both multi-national companies
and SMEs (60% by number). RIA works to promote the importance of the rail system to UK plc, to
help export UK expertise around the globe and to share best practice and innovation across the
industry. www.riagb.org.uk