Brussels, 10/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - Eastern European countries are refusing to discuss the issue of social dumping and letterbox companies in the context of road transport. Eleven of these countries are putting forward a statement countering the one put forward by France.
In the field of social dumping in road transport, it is proving to be a very close match at the Council. Following the delegation of 10 countries headed by France, another group consisting of 11 delegations has counter-attacked with a statement on the subject, which will soon be sent to European Commissioner for Transport Siim Kallas.
At the European Transport Ministers' meeting on 6 June, Frédéric Cuvillier from France was able to win the support of nine other countries in launching a warning to the Commission over the issue of social dumping. The delegation also called for changes to the current legislative framework for the road transport market so that it is able to tackle this question (Austria, Belgium, Greece, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain, EUROPE 11095).
However, just as many countries oppose this goal, with their own interpretation of the issue in question. The Visegrad countries (Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia) adopted a declaration supported by the Baltic countries, Bulgaria and Romania. Although these countries acknowledge that “irregularities are undermining fair competition” and thus the need to harmonise implementation of European rules, this should, however, be done in the “current legislative framework”. These countries believe that regulations 1071/2009/EC and 1072/2009/EC on the road transport market must remain as they are.
Semantics also divides these two groups of countries. The broader Visegrad group believes that the setting up of letterbox companies cannot simply be put down to national practices. These countries also reject the link between social dumping and wage disparities between drivers in European countries. Their statement puts this down to the diversity of economic situations and states that they cannot be completely eradicated.
One diplomatic source appeared to suggest that, if the Commission decides to amend the current legislative framework, these countries could constitute a sufficient blocking minority. Particularly if the United Kingdom, Ireland and Sweden, which have not yet officially made their positions known, veer towards the position advocated by the Visegrad countries. (MD)