Brussels, 25/05/2012 (Agence Europe) - With initial recommendations from the high-level cabotage group expected next month, the European Association for forwarding and logistics (CLECAT) says it backs the Commission in its intention to review liberalisation of the road freight market. It expresses reservations, however, over the recent pressure from Scandinavian hauliers, who want to change the rules on cross-border trade with the Baltic States and Eastern Europe.
A high-level group - eight leading academic figures - on cabotage is due to deliver its conclusions on cabotage by mid-June. Legislative proposals from the Commission are likely to follow next year. A complete overhaul of the road freight market is expected, from taxes to social law and safety and to implementation in the member states. CLECAT fully backs the removal of current restrictions on cabotage. It acknowledges that there are problems with the enforceability of rules and says there has to be better regulation in some areas of the current regime and a level playing field created. It encourages member states and the Commission to deal with this without suspending the current rules.
CLECAT also specifically calls for the rejection of a call from Nordic road freight operators to introduce a temporary six months opt-out of EU's cabotage rules. The road associations from Sweden, Denmark and Finland have called on their transport ministers to seek support from the European Commission to change the cross-border movement of trucks from the Baltic region and Eastern Europe into Scandinavia. CLECAT Director General Nicolette van der Jagt said: “Cabotage represents a very small percentage of the market. If national road freight interest groups feel threatened by lower cost operators moving freely into their markets, they would be better to market the difference in service standards that could be achieved by a user choosing a national operator over one from another, perhaps distant, member state.” (MD/transl.rt)