The European Railway Agency (ERA), set up by Regulation 881/2004, held its first meeting on 15th July.
The Agency brings together representatives of the 25 Member States, the European Commission, and the actors involved (railway companies, infrastructure managers, railway industry, staff representatives, passenger organisations and railway freight customers).
ERA will be responsible for achieving greater interoperability and security of operations of railways in Europe. The agency’s offices will be located in Valenciennes and Lille (France).
It will be presided by R. Lampinen of the Finnish Ministry of Transport and shall have about 100 experts when it is fully operational in 2006.
http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/transport/rail/era/index_en.htm