Brussels, 11/04/2014 (Agence Europe) - A report on the situation of the road transport market is to be presented by the European Commission on Monday 14 April. No legislative proposal to open up this market further is anticipated that this stage. A revision of cabotage is therefore not yet on the agenda, even though the issue has mobilised the sector. The current rules on cabotage allow carriers to operate three services in a state other than their own on the return leg of international transport. A great many empty runs are carried out in Europe and the Commission's report will take stock of this issue.
According to a Commission source, “a raft of options” will be put on the table of the next commissioner to improve the functioning of this market. The current European transport commissioner, Siim Kallas, is however expected clearly to express his preference for better application of the existing rules, as well as simplification of them. The outgoing commissioner may also call for restrictions applying to the internal road transport market, in which cabotage is a distraction from the bigger picture, to be removed. (MD)