Brussels, 22/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - Jörg Leichtfried (S&D, Austria), the rapporteur at the European Parliament on the review of weights and dimensions of lorries, is beginning to develop a number of possible solutions with regard to this controversial directive affecting the use of mega trucks in cross-border traffic.
During the parliamentary transport (TRAN) committee meeting on 21 January, he took stock with his colleagues of the amendments that had already been submitted. Unsurprisingly, changes to the aerodynamics and improving road safety do not create much of a problem. On the other hand, he is totally against the Commission proposals on the opening up of borders to longer and heavier lorries subject to certain conditions. Leichtfried acknowledges that the reactions of his colleagues to the subject are also very clear, depending on which delegation or political group they belong to. The rapporteur summed up by noting that some of the Scandinavian, Irish and British MEPs support a swift opening up of borders, whilst others highlight national legal constraints or infrastructure difficulties if these “monster trucks” are allowed on their roads and still others do not want the borders opened up to these lorries at all. On the basis of this observation, Leichtfried believes that a solution has to be found that does not undermine the practices in the north, in Ireland and in the United Kingdom and that, if a compromise is reached, these countries should be allowed to continue as they have always done. He did, however, admit that this solution has not yet been found and he was still attempting to find a way of reaching a majority decision on the issue. Time, however, is running out because the vote is planned for 11 February. (MD/transl.fl)