- The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport signed an administrative agreement with the European Union Agency for Railways, the two will begin to exchange of human resources and technical supports –
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (Minister Noh Hyeong-Ouk, MOLIT) announced that the ministry signed an “Administrative Agreement on Railway Safety-related Technical and Regulatory Issues” with the European Union Agency for Railways*.
* European Union Agency for Railways, ERA : A specialized agency that implements and changes railway safety systems, such as safety technology standards and safety goals, to implement the European Union’s railway safety policies.
This agreement holds a big significance as it is the ministry’s first step in establishing cooperative relationship for railways with European Union Agency for Railways. This will become the starting point for Korea to improve its railway system to the level of the EU, which has the world’s top railway safety technology and authentication system.
The signing of this administrative agreement was based on the consensus of cooperation on railway safety technology and regulations between the two countries which arose during the preparation of the 31st International Railroad Safety Council, held in October 2021 in Korea.
< The 31st International Railway Safety Council, IRSC>
The 31st International Railroad Safety Council was held under the theme of 'Railway Safety and New Challenges.' Twenty-one topics were presented by domestic and foreign railroad safety experts in four fields: railroad safety management, convergence of new technologies, safety culture, worker safety, and international cooperation. The 'Seoul Declaration of Railway Safety', which states the principles of international safety policies, such as safety technology, industrial development, and international cooperation, was announced with the unanimous consent of 26 IRSC core organizations from 16 countries.
As a result of a proposal from the MOLIT (June 21st) which proposed to further solidify railroad technical cooperation between Korea and the EU, an administrative agreement for mutual development of the railroad industry was concluded.
The main cooperation range includes the following:
Exchange of activities and knowledge on the legal and technical issues in the overall railway industry, such as safety assessment methods, safety culture, safety management systems, accident investigations, conformity assessment, human factors, and organizational factors.
Cooperation to organize meetings, seminars, workshops, talks and other activities for such exchanges;
Sharing railway safety information, safety promotion and in new safety issues
Exchange of information on railroad safety related research programs for such purpose. Exchange of research project results based on such information or implementation of cooperative activities.
Exchange of information on railway management risks, data analysis, and certification and approval activities and policy exchanges for more effectively functioning railway market and lower technical and regulative barriers.
Moreover, in the appendix of the administrative agreement stipulating the details of the cooperation, matters on information exchange intended for improving railroad safety between the two countries, such as operational and technical risk events and factors, safety evaluation, and mitigation measures, was specified.
Also, by allowing them to decide on cooperative activities related to the information exchange, a foundation in which Korea and Europe can jointly promote technical development for railway safety was established.
Kang HeeEop director of the Railway Bureau of the MOLIT, said, “In the past, Korean railway vehicles and parts companies have been had hardships in having exports due to the lack of communication between the two governments on the topics related to the technical regulatory barriers, such as safety standard conformity assessment, which must be discussed in order to enter European market.”
The director emphasized “This administrative agreement is significant in that it provides an official channel for collaboration which allows the two governments to discuss and improve industrial difficulties in the railroad sector on trade technology regulations.”
“This administrative agreement will make opportunities to achieve various tangible results such as overseas expansion, safety technology cooperation, and preparation for international railroad connection. This will become the path which will expand Korea’s entry into Europe”