18.7.2008 Official Journal of the European Union L 191/1 (Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is obligatory) DIRECTIVES DIRECTIVE 2008/57/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 17 June 2008 on the interoperability of the rail system within the Community (Recast) (Text with EEA relevance) THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu- nity, and in particular Articles 71 and 156 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1), After consulting the Committee of the Regions, Acting in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 251 of the Treaty (?), Whereas: (1) Council Directive 96/48/EC of 23 July 1996 on the interoperability of the trans-European high-speed rail system (°) and Directive 2001/16/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 March 2001 on the interoperability of the trans-European conventional rail system (%) were substantially amended by Directive 2004/ () OJ C 256, 27.10.2007, p. 39. () Position of the European Parliament of 11 December 2007 and Council Decision of 14 May 2008. () OJL235,17.9.1996, p. 6. Directive as last amended by Commission Directive 2007/32/EC (O] L 141, 2.6.2007, p. 63). (* OJ L 110, 20.4.2001, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Directive 2007/32[EC. 50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (°). As new amendments are now being introduced, it is appropriate to recast the Directives for the sake of clarity and merge their provisions together into a single instru- ment with a view to simplification. (2) In order to enable citizens of the Union, economic operators and regional and local authorities to benefit to the full from the advantages deriving from the establishing of an area without internal frontiers, it is appropriate, in particular, to improve the interlinking and interoperability of the national rail networks as well as access thereto, implementing any measures that may prove necessary in the field of technical standardisation, as provided for in Article 155 of the Treaty. (3) By signing the Protocol adopted in Kyoto on 12 December 1997 the European Union has undertaken to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. These objectives require an adjustment to the balance between the various modes of transport, and consequently an increase in the competi- tiveness of rail transport. (4) The Community strategy for the integration of environ- mental and sustainable development concerns into its transport policy highlights the need to act to reduce the environmental impact of transport. (>) Directive 2004/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 amending Council Directive 96/48/EC on the interoperability of the trans-European high-speed rail system and Directive 2001/16/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the interoperability of the trans-European conventional rail system (O] L 164, 30.4.2004, p. 114. Corrected by OJ L 220, 21.6.2004, p. 40).