Brussels, 19/05/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 18 May, the European Parliament adopted the resolution drafted by Hella Ranner (EPP, Austria), which calls for closer harmonisation of penalties for serious infringements of social rules in the road transport sector (infringements with regard to driving and rest times, fitting tachographs, minimum age for drivers, etc.).
The resolution, based on the report presented by the European Commission in August 2009, analysing the application of sanctions, calls on the Commission to propose “uniform and binding interpretation” of the regulation on road hauliers' working time and to harmonise the interpretation and implementation of the directive as a whole. MEPs take the view that the types of penalties and the levels of fines imposed by member states could be further harmonised. They propose that minimum and maximum penalties be set for each of the infringements set out in the current legislation (the 2006 directive establishing minimum conditions to be met for implementing regulations 3820/85 and 3821/85), and that categories of fines be set up linked to those of penalties. Fines could then be adjusted to comparable levels between member states based on “objective” criteria, such as GDP or the geographical factors. MEPs also highlighted the need to harmonise checks, and call on the Commission to prepare recommendations and minimum standards for the training of inspection bodies. In its report, requested by the Parliament, the Commission noted wide divergences in the application of the sanctions contained in the European legislation for serious infringements (fines, taking the vehicle of the road, withdrawal of driving licence or imprisonment). Fines were the only sanction imposed in all member states, but levels varied from around 58 in Malta to over €5,000 in Austria, Cyprus, Germany and Ireland. In 15 member states (Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom), legislation provides for immobilisation of the vehicle; in six (Bulgaria, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Slovakia and United Kingdom, driving licences can be withdrawn; and seven (Austria, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Ireland, Luxembourg and United Kingdom) provide for imprisonment. Imprisonment, however, is used most after non-payment of a fine or for re-offending, Ranner noted. (A.By./transl.rt)