Rail travel is an important means of transport in all European countries. The European Commission welcomes the political agreement reached at the Transport Council on the Technical Pillar of the Fourth Railway Package. The Technical Pillar includes three proposals of a comprehensive package of measures to deliver better quality and more choice in railway services in Europe: Interoperability and safety directives and a new set of rules for the European Railway Agency. A key role is addressing rising traffic demand, congestion, fuel security and decarburization. But the rail sector is fragmented in national markets that entail a huge variety of rules and procedures for manufacturers and railway undertakings.