Der Binnenmarkt galt lange als das Herzstück der europäischen Einigung. Durch den freien Verkehr von Waren, Dienstleistungen, Personen und Kapital sollte Europa weiter zusammenwachsen. Schön wäre es, aber das funktioniert nicht einmal im internationalen Eisenbahnverkehr:
Europe’s not-so common market
Throughout the euro crisis, the continent’s politicians have not shied from using strong rhetoric about the importance of economic integration. The survival of the currency was a question of war and peace, some said. Others claimed that the failure of the euro would mean the end of the European Union. Only two weeks ago, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for a joint economic government for the whole union.
Between such integration rhetoric and economic reality lies a yawning gap. Despite repeated calls for greater unity, the European common market still does not work properly. Instead of opening their borders to the free movement of people, products, services and capital as required under various treaties, member states are still being caught in covert and sometimes open protectionism. This undermines their credibility about the future of the currency, too.
Europe’s politicians love to offer solemn praise of unity. It only shows that they have not travelled by train for some time. Theoretically, there should be a European railway market in which rail operators are free to offer their services wherever they like. In practice, national egotism is blocking access by foreign competitors.
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