Brussels, Belgium – 2006-06-21 the association of the European Rail Infrastructure Managers (EIM) and its members welcomed a wide range of representatives from the entire railway sector, including several high level representatives from the European Commission and Parliament.

In his welcoming word, Ossi Niemimuukko, Vice-Chairman of EIM and Chief Director of RHK (Finnish rail administration), outlined EIM’s vision and priorities, all of which were demonstrated by past and future activities. These include:

• Contribute to the creation of an intra- and intermodal level playing field, whilst promoting the development of rail traffic.
• Facilitate the optimisation of the cost and performance of the overall system.
• Contribute to the improved development of rail transport. Providing EIM expertise, in particular to the European Rail Agency, is one of the means to achieve this goal.
• Maintain a continuous open dialogue with all rail stakeholders concerned.

The guest speaker, Mr. Mikko Ojajärvi, Director of the Infrastructure Unit of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, represented the forthcoming Finnish Presidency.

Mr. Ojajärvi elaborated on the transport programme for the next six months, in particular the role of rail in the complete logistics chain and the Third Railway Package, whilst acknowledging the role EIM has played in the past and is also committed to play in the future.

EIM Vice-Chairman Ossi Niemimuukko concluded by saying that “EIM will continue to assist the European institutions and the industry in realising the objective of revitalising the European rail industry before 2010“ and “EIM will continue to work in close co-operation with the sector as a whole.“