This Week in Freight & Ports — Brussels (#22, 2026)
New railway capacity regulation (Reg 2026/1184) enters into force; Maritime Single Window implementing rules (2026/1233) published; Air Safety List revised, Kyrgyzstan removed; Council adopts positions on rail freight and customs.
June 07, 2026 to June 13, 2026
New railway capacity regulation (Reg 2026/1184) enters into force; Maritime Single Window implementing rules (2026/1233) published; Air Safety List revised, Kyrgyzstan removed; Council adopts positions on rail freight and customs.
📋 In This Week's Newsletter
• ⚖️ EU Legislation
• 🤝 EU Council
• ✒️ EP Committee Work
EU Legislation (Official Journal)
Regulation (EU) 2026/1184 on railway infrastructure capacity published
Regulation (EU) 2026/1184 of 20 May 2026 establishes new principles and procedures for managing railway infrastructure capacity, traffic, and performance in the single European railway area. The regulation amends Directive 2012/34/EU and repeals Regulation (EU) No 913/2010 on rail freight corridors. It introduces strategic planning and a new coordination framework for infrastructure managers via the European Network of Infrastructure Managers (ENIM), sets reporting obligations, and defines processes for congestion management and cross-border capacity allocation. The regulation will apply to capacity planning, allocation and performance management for both domestic and international rail freight and passenger services over the coming planning periods.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1233: Maritime Single Window addressing service rules
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1233 of 11 June 2026 lays down technical and functional specifications for the common addressing service within the European Maritime Single Window environment under Regulation (EU) 2019/1239. This enables the automated configuration of direct data connections between reporting parties and maritime national single windows for port call reporting across Member States. The regulation specifies use of dynamic discovery and distributed publisher nodes to ensure interoperability and system resilience.
Rail carriage by international rail: Council adopts position for key technical standards
Council Decision (EU) 2026/1303 of 4 June 2026 sets out the EU position at the 18th session of the OTIF Committee of Technical Experts regarding the revision of Uniform Technical Prescriptions for 'Rolling stock – freight wagons' and 'locomotives and passenger rolling stock', and the amendment of rules for telematics applications for freight services under COTIF. The EU will vote for revised standards designed to align OTIF and EU law, while proposing amendments to ensure consistency and operational compatibility for interoperable freight operations. The Council decides not to support a new uniform certificate format until further work ensures compatibility with Union registers.
EU Air Safety List updated: Air Express Algeria added, Kyrgyzstan removed
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1317 of 8 June 2026 updates the list of air carriers banned from operating in the EU (Regulation (EC) No 474/2006). Air Express Algeria is added following unresolved safety deficiencies, and all Kyrgyzstan carriers are removed after a successful oversight reform and EU assessment. The update results from European Air Safety Committee deliberation and consultation, affecting freight and passenger carriers and their access to EU airspace.
EU Council
Transport Council adopts conclusions on EU ports strategy and maritime industrial strategy
Transport ministers met on 8 June 2026, discussing proposals regarding clean corporate vehicles and decarbonisation beyond 2030, and approved conclusions covering the new maritime industrial and EU ports strategies. These discussions address competitiveness, digitalisation, and sustainability for EU ports and the wider shipping sector.
ECOFIN Council: Position agreed on strengthening the carbon border adjustment mechanism
On 12 June 2026, the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) agreed its negotiation position on legislative proposals to reinforce the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), ahead of further interinstitutional negotiations. Ministers also debated the market integration and supervision package, seen as a foundational step for the savings and investment union.
EP Committee Work
JURI opinion on Austria-Switzerland cross-border road transport legal basis
The Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI), rapporteur Tobiasz BOCHEŃSKI, adopted its opinion on the proposed decision empowering Austria to amend a bilateral agreement with Switzerland. The proposal would allow cabotage operations by coach and bus for international passenger transport in border regions, pending Council and Parliament approval.
ITRE draft opinion: technical requirements for motor vehicles
The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), rapporteur Giorgio GORI, published a draft opinion on the Commission proposal to amend Regulations (EC) No 561/2006, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2019/2144 and (EU) 2024/1257 regarding the simplification of technical requirements and testing for motor vehicles, which is likely to impact vehicle approvals for logistics and road freight.
