Brussels, 20/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - Supporters of the European Modular System (EMS - modular concept for giant commercial vehicles or gigaliners) disapprove of the letter sent by European Parliament President Martin Schulz to his Commission counterpart, José Manuel Barroso, revoking the interpretation of Directive 96/53 to authorise cross-border use of vehicle combinations or “mega-trucks”. European Commissioner Siim Kallas had in fact announced the interpretation, creating further polemic on the matter within the European Parliament, with the latter fearing its co-legislative authority has been placed in jeopardy. The EMS Forum welcomes the clarity on cross-border use of EMS and supports the Commission in its respect of the original intentions of the legislator.
The European Modular System provides for heavy commercial vehicles to combine loading units, often making those vehicles longer and heavier, for use on a number of sections of road infrastructure between states that authorise the use of gigaliners. The Forum dedicated to the modular concept bases its argument on the principle that, by authorising such practice, it will help to make road transport more effective and to perform better. The Forum in no way appreciates the tougher tone taken by the Parliament with a view to putting a spanner in the works of the interpretation advocated by Commissioner Kallas. In a press statement on 20 July, the Forum stated that, on the contrary, that interpretation finally brought greater clarity, in an issue that has already been questioned by other commissioners over the past decade. It believes the Commission has not created any new legislation but has above all clarified existing European rules to ensure legal security and harmonised application of the directive.
The Commission is, in any case, planning to propose revision of the legislation by the end of the year, for other reasons. Commissioner Kallas was leaving the door open to Parliament to take this opportunity to amend the question of cross-border use of gigaliners. Nonetheless, the Commission services are quite formal - operators may place full trust in the interpretation as announced on 13 June this year. (MD/transl.jl)