Brussels, 10/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - A last-minute compromise proved impossible on Monday 10 February, on the delicate question of increasingly longer and heavier cross-border lorry traffic as part of the revision of the directive on heavy goods vehicle weights and dimensions. A vote on this revision was supposed to have taken place on Tuesday 11 February in the Parliament transport committee but this has been postponed until March, so that the groups have more time to find a compromise solution.
Above all, the revision aims to modify the design of lorries in an effort to make them safer and more energy efficient, particularly by way of a more streamlined and aerodynamic cabin. Although these aspects are not controversial they are, however, the subject of a number of compromise amendments, while maintaining the overall philosophy underpinning the Commission proposal.
On the other hand, discussions heated up on the Commission suggestion that cross-border mega lorry traffic between two consenting countries could be allowed. The rapporteur, Jörg Leichtfried (S&D, Austria), opposed this approach, particularly because no impact assessment had been carried out. He would prefer that the borders are not opened up to this kind of lorry until an impact study on intermodality, safety and infrastructure has reported. Opinions at the transport committee, however, were extremely divergent and the rapporteur was unable to obtain support for his amendments and could not draft tcompromise amendments. The EPP led the opposition to his approach. This is particularly because their shadow reporter, Petri Sarvamaa, comes from Finland where mega lorries are authorised and are, indeed, necessary. Nonetheless, the position of this group is not expected to be homogenous, as is the case for all the other groups. The nationality of MEPs also affects how things are balanced, with a majority of Nordic MEPs being in favour of these longer and wider vehicles, whilst MEPs from more mountainous regions, as well as central and southern Europe are more sceptical. (MD/transl.fl)