Brussels, 02/12/2014 (Agence Europe) - Agreement of the revision of the weights and dimensions of lorries is not for any time soon. A new round of interinstitutional trialogue talks broke down without agreement on Monday evening 1 December. A fresh meeting has been scheduled for 10 December: this will be the last chance the Italian Presidency will have to broker a deal on this issue.
Addressing the Parliament transport committee on Tuesday 2 December, Commissioner Violeta Bulc said she hoped a “good agreement” could be reached soon. The same stumbling blocks to the negotiations remain (see EUROPE 11192).
The main difficulty is the timescale for introducing the modifications to the design of the cab in new models of lorry, to improve the aerodynamics and road safety. The Council, looking to the interests of the lorry-constructor countries, does not want the changes brought in for seven years. The Parliament, on the other hand, wants the changes as quickly as possible, in the view that safety and energy efficiency cannot wait. The other bone of contention relates to the review clause demanded by the Parliament for the Commission to provide a report and an impact assessment by 2016 on authorising the cross-border traffic of mega-trucks. Finally, negotiators still have to decide whether or not weight sensors should be fitted on all new lorries, as the Parliament, but not the Council, would like. (MD)