Brussels, 07/12/2012 (Agence Europe) - Siim Kallas has taken stock of his forthcoming legislative proposals in the automobile sector. Next year, he plans to open up the road transport market by regulating the question of cabotage and revising weights and measures for heavy goods vehicles. Changes would focus on aerodynamic trucks, 45-foot containers, and clean engines.
Invited by the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (EAMA), on Thursday 6 December, the European transport commissioner stated his legislative intentions for the road sector. A legislative package is on next year's agenda. In that package, there will be opening of road transport, a sector where domestic markets are still over regulated and restricted, which hampers economic efficiency, he explained. Kallas intends to temporarily facilitate access to national markets for transporters via cabotage. At the same time, it would be necessary to correct grey areas of social legislation in force in the transport sector by strengthening legislation and applying it better.
To the road package, review of the directive on weights and dimensions of heavy goods vehicles will be added. On one hand, in order to promote aerodynamic transport, a new, more streamlined vehicle profile will be authorised, or current models will be updated with aerodynamic provisions (10% fuel gain on long haul trips). On the other hand, 45-foot containers would be allowed on multimodal journeys. These containers are increasingly accepted as a deep-sea standard. Finally, vehicles meeting the latest Euro-standards, as well as electric and hybrid vehicles, are heavier than standard vehicles. The Commission may introduce certain specific provisions for vehicles using new propulsion systems, to encourage uptake of these vehicles without sacrificing loading capacity.
Kallas did not fail to point out to automobile manufacturers that these new rules would provide a good business opportunity. In this road package, there will also be new proposals relating to tolls (see EUROPE 10745) and to alternative fuels (see EUROPE 10741). (MD/transl.jl)