Strasbourg, 13/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - In answer to a question from MEP Ismail Ertug (S&D, Germany) at the European Commission Question Time at the European Parliament, EU Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas clarified his plans for super-lorries. Having got wind that a letter on this was about to be sent to the member states by the Commission, the EP asked the commissioner to consult MEPs before sending a missive on this highly controversial issue over which MEPs, member states and other stakeholders are divided.
Kallas said at the European Parliament plenary on Tuesday 12 March that he was not planning to introduce any directive that would allow super-lorries to be allowed to drive in Europe and told MEPs that the decision about whether super-lorries should be allowed was in the hands of the member states. He said that after consulting the Commission's legal department, he discovered that the EU does not have the power to prevent super-lorries from crossing the borders of countries where they are authorised, adding that it was absurd to let such huge vehicles drive on roads in small countries, but not to cross borders.
This is the message he is intending to relay to the EP's transport and tourism committee, which has requested his attendance at its meeting on 27 March. (MD/transl.fl)