The European Commission has published the results of its evaluation of the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA), confirming the Agency’s crucial role in improving rail safety, interoperability and the creation of a harmonised Single European Rail Area (SERA).
Adopted on 7 November, the Commission’s Staff Working Document concludes that ERA remains highly relevant to the current and future needs of the European rail sector. However, it also highlights that resource constraints have limited the Agency’s ability to fully deliver on its expanding responsibilities under the 4th Railway Package.
ERA’s evolving mandate
The 4th Railway Package, adopted to create a more efficient, interoperable and safe railway system across Europe, significantly broadened ERA’s mandate. The Agency is now responsible for issuing EU-wide vehicle authorisations and single safety certificates, in addition to its long-standing policy and regulatory functions.
According to the evaluation, the scale of these new tasks has not been matched by an equivalent increase in resources, placing strain on ERA’s capacity to manage operational workloads while maintaining its strategic policy role.
Optimising authorisation and certification processes
The evaluation identifies a need to simplify and streamline ERA’s core processes, particularly those concerning vehicle authorisation and safety certification. These functions are essential for ensuring both safety and interoperability, yet the procedures can be complex and time-consuming, creating administrative challenges for applicants.
While the One-Stop Shop (OSS) digital platform has improved access for operators and manufacturers, the report suggests further optimisation to deliver the cost savings and efficiency gains originally envisaged under the 4th Railway Package.
ERTMS deployment remains a key challenge
The evaluation also assessed ERA’s role in supporting the deployment of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS), a cornerstone of the EU’s rail digitalisation and cross-border interoperability agenda.
Although progress has been made, the report finds that ERTMS rollout remains slower than expected, citing the complexity of coordination among Member States and the technical challenges of large-scale implementation. Strengthening ERA’s capacity to support harmonised deployment will be essential to achieving a truly seamless European rail network.
Recognising ERA’s policy contribution
Stakeholders consulted during the evaluation expressed broad support for ERA’s contribution to developing common safety and technical standards, simplifying redundant national rules, and improving the overall coherence of EU railway regulation.
They also agreed that while national-level actions are valuable, they cannot substitute for the benefits of EU-level coordination. The evaluation concludes that ERA’s work has improved both effectiveness and efficiency across the sector, strengthening interoperability and harmonised operations within the Single European Rail Area.
Next steps
In line with the findings, the European Commission announced in its “Connecting Europe through High-Speed Rail” communication that it will propose a revised ERA Regulation by 2026. The revision will aim to further enhance safety oversight, digitalisation and cost-efficiency, drawing directly on the outcomes of the evaluation.
The evaluation was conducted under Article 82(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/796, which requires the Commission to assess ERA’s effectiveness, efficiency and impact, and to determine whether its mandate should be adjusted.
It covered three main areas:
- The dual system for vehicle authorisation and single safety certification;
- The One-Stop Shop (OSS), the digital platform used by the rail sector and supply industry for applications to ERA and national safety authorities;
- The harmonised implementation of ERTMS across the European Union.
Overall, the Commission’s assessment reaffirms ERA’s strategic role in supporting safe, interoperable and modern rail operations across Europe, while calling for stronger resources and streamlined processes to meet the growing demands of the EU’s evolving rail system.
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