Brussels, 30/04/2014 (Agence Europe) - The European Transport Ministers are to discuss the subjects of PO box companies and social dumping in the road transport sector, at their informal meeting to be held in Athens on 8 May. The day before, they will also discuss the European maritime transport policy and its prospects between now and the end of the decade.
Road freight. Unusually, the informal Transport Council convened by the Greek Presidency of the Council will be exclusively dedicated to road transport. The sensitive issue of the application of social rights in road transport will be discussed by the ministers, with an introduction by the French Transport Minister, Frédéric Cuvillier. He will report back on the results of a European conference held in Paris on 16 April on road goods transport and the harmonisation of working conditions. The much-decried problems of social dumping among professional drivers and unfair competition via “PO box companies” are likely to be the main focus of the talks between the European ministers. The question of the liberalisation of cabotage, which has also given rise to serious misgivings among the delegations, may also be discussed. A number of ministers have already made it clear that their priority is the implementation of existing competition and social rights rules. They argue that this requirement takes priority over a greater opening-up of the single transport market. The discussions will be held over lunch and will be attended by the secretary general of the International Transport Forum. They may also be informed by a recent report by the European Commission on the state of play in the single road transport market in the EU.
Road safety. At the start of the day, a ministerial debate will also be held on smart infrastructure, particularly as regards its relevance in terms of road safety, and will be attended by the secretaries general of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (known by its French acronym, ACEA) and of the Conference of European Directors of Roads (CEDR). Road safety will also crop up earlier that day, when the European road safety map prizes are awarded.
Maritime transport. The day before, on 7 May, the same ministers will also be taking part in an informal Maritime Council, which will kick off with a working lunch devoted to the implementation of the conventions of the International Maritime Organisation. The ministers will then have the opportunity to discuss in greater depth the European strategy for maritime transport to run until 2018. This will allow them to carry out a sort of mid-term review. The delegations are also expected to discuss the prospects of the European policy on this subject for the following two years, up to 2020. The exchanges are likely to lead to the adoption of conclusions on this subject, to be known as the “Athens declaration”. The subject is one of the priorities of the Greek Presidency, as the country is a major player in the maritime transport sector. (MD)