Vilnius, 16/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - Addressing the road transport industry (International Road Transport Union, IRU), the European Commissioner Siim Kallas confirmed new developments regarding cabotage between now and the end of the year. Preaching to the converted, he also called for the rapid adoption of his latest proposals on the revision of the weights and dimensions of lorries.
Road freight market. The commissioner, who was invited to the opening session of the IRU's conference on transport held in Vilnius on 15 September, in the wake of the informal meeting of the transport ministers (see other article), announced that he would present a report by the end of the year on the state of the road freight market. This may be accompanied by a proposal on “how the rules can be implemented more effectively”. He said that, so far, “carriers cannot pick up a load where it is available, which makes the coming together of supply and demand complicated. Companies are artificially protected from competition on certain markets, by administrative barriers”.
Opening-up of the market. The commissioner is therefore firmly of the opinion that the legislative framework needs to be improved and that the market has to open up more to cabotage, “but this needs to be prepared for carefully”. He repeated his denials that he intends to bring this about as a “big bang”. He spoke in favour of a long-term vision to “create a road transport market without restrictions, and without distinctions between the countries”. He will be able to count on the support of the Lithuanian transport minister, Rimantas Sinkevicius, who is also of the opinion that there needs to be an end to running empty if road transport is to be made more efficient from an environmental point of view. However, he stressed that the opening-up of the market should be combined with quality jobs.
Weights and dimensions of lorries. On another chapter, which has been closely followed by the road sector, the commissioner also urged the member states and the European Parliament to reach a swift agreement on the proposed revision of the weights and dimensions of lorries, notably so that the “truck of the future” is more aerodynamic and becomes a global reference. “Everyone gains. Operators raise their economic efficiency; emissions from heavy trucks reduced, while road safety improves; Europe's truck manufacturers get valuable commercial opportunity to remain world market leaders”. Mr Janusz Lacny, the president of the IRU, spoke of the value of more consistent loading, in a sly reference to mega trucks. Commissioner Kallas took care not to raise this issue, even though this issue could end up holding the agreement on the revision of weights and dimensions hostage. (MD/transl.fl)