In 2023, the Federal Agency for Transport Regulation launched an audit into the accounting separation for the year 2022 of the SNCB, as set out in Articles 4 and 9 of the Rail Code. As part of the audit, the following aspects were examined for the first time:
- The separation between PSO services and other commercial activities, and the prohibition on the transfer of public funds from PSO to other activities;
- The separation between freight transport and passenger transport, without any transfer of public funds;
- Ensuring transparent and non-discriminatory access to service facilities through separate accounts for those facilities.
During this audit, the Agency did not identify any evidence that SNCB’s separate accounts for 2022 are not in compliance with the Rail Code and its implementing decrees. Given the scope of the requirements regarding accounting separation, the risks identified and the changes proposed by NMBS/SNCB from the 2023 financial year onwards, the Agency does, however, regard the supervision of this as an ongoing process, with further audit engagements to follow.
The text of the decision is available in Dutch only.
