TALLINN - The Economy Ministry announced on Aug. 15 that it would regularly meet with the owners of Eesti Raudtee (Estonian Railway) after the two sides, who have been increasingly critical of each other, met for the first time in months.
A Spokesperson for the ministry said after Economy and Communications Minister Edgar Savisaar and chairman of the rail company's supervisory board, Edward Burkhardt, met that regular meetings would better facilitate the rail operator's activities.
"In order to avoid misapprehension and misunderstanding in the future, representatives of the owners agreed that regular meetings would be held in the future to arrange management [of Estonian Railway] in a balanced and more effective manner," the ministry spokesperson said.
Both sides were reluctant to share details of the meeting given the tension following Estonian Railway's recent announcement that it would take the state to court in order to contest the size of infrastructure access fees it is permitted to ask from other operators.
The company claims the small size of the fees, which were established by the Railway Inspectorate, will not allow it to carry out the investment program agreed to with the state.
Earlier this month it was announced that both the ministry and Estonian Railway, which was privatized several years ago, were in talks on the methodology of calculating the rail infrastructure fees, with company officials hoping to amend the regulation in their favor.
The outcome will be clear after rail infrastructure cost estimates for the period 2006/2007 have been presented by Eesti Raudtee and adjustments have possibly been made in the regulation.
"It is possible that the regulation will be adjusted in certain points. One more meeting is due in the near future to specify a couple of substantive points," an Economy Ministry spokesman was quoted as saying.
The infrastructure access fees that Estonian Railway is entitled to charge depend on the amount of goods and commodities shipped and the investments made by the rail company.
The head of the Economy Ministry's legal department, Eva Vanamb, and chief of the department for roads and railways, Ain Tatter, as well as Estonian Railway CEO Christopher Aadnesen and director in charge of development Raivo Vare took part in the meeting.
