Brussels, 23/04/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 23 April, Siim Kallas opened a Pandora's Box at the European Parliament when he introduced a proposal to revise lorry weights and measures. EP transport committee MEPs voiced their opposition (Socialist and Greens) or their support (Liberals and Conservatives) for the cross-border traffic of mega trucks, as included in the revision presented by the Commission on 15 April last.
Presenting his proposal, the European Commissioner summed up with the following statement: “This proposal can be divided into two: safety and environmental improvements of lorries… and then the question of these mega trucks crossing borders”. It is the last aspect that has provoked the sharpest differences at the transport committee. The part on the need for green and clean lorries obtained the support of MEPs.
Greens and Socialists were clearly opposed to this kind of cross-border traffic. Saïd El Khadraoui (S&D, Belgium) indicated to the commissioner that his group “does not support the use or increased use of this kind of vehicle”. He believes that these vehicles could increase competition in the road haulage sector and they risked becoming standard in Europe. There are also problems involving the difficult adaptation of road infrastructure and subsequent safety concerns.
The Greens/EFA also raised the problem of competition with the rail sector. Eva Lichtenberger from Austria is afraid that there is a desire to “win acceptance for the unacceptable… This proposal is totally ambiguous and they want to get us to approve mega trucks, which is obviously the reasoning behind this proposal”.
The Liberals, on the contrary, believe it contains a real environmental benefit because mega trucks would be able to replace two or even three ordinary lorries. Gesine Meissner (ALDE, Germany) went as far as calling these vehicles “eco-trucks” and would like them used in the rest of Europe.
The same viewpoint was expressed by the Conservatives and Jacqueline Foster (ECR, United Kingdom) asked why cross-border traffic should be exclusively restricted to two countries that authorise this kind of vehicle.
The only group without a clear position on the issue was the EPP. According to Mathieu Grosch (EPP, Belgium), the party is still divided on the question. Ideas expressed at a national level among members of the group are obviously having an effect on the debate (Nordic MEPs support the mega trucks). While waiting for the Christian Democrats to adopt their position on the question, Grosch is advocating that the subsidiarity principle be respected.
Facing a transport committee that is totally split, the commissioner warned that “it's up to you on the political point of view you decide but I hope that you are not going to delay implementation of all the other positive elements in the proposal”. (MD/transl.fl)