Brussels, 05/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - “Social issues have an important place in the political calendar of the Juncker Commission (…). I am committed to getting results in this field, taking account of the specific nature (of the sector)”, the Commissioner for Transport, Violeta Bulc, told a high-level conference at the Brussels museum Autoworld, on Thursday 4 June. “The transport sector has to remain attractive to workers”, she stressed, reiterating the tough working conditions transport workers are faced with.
The social issue has come into particular focus since Germany announced plans to require the national minimum wage (€8.50 per hour since 1 January) to be paid to foreign lorry drivers in transit through its territory. This decision caused uproar in the countries of Eastern Europe, particularly Poland and the Czech Republic, which brought the matter before the European Commission earlier this year. In May, the Commission decided to launch infringement proceedings against Berlin (see EUROPE 11317). The German government's approach is “disproportionate”, the Commission argues, as it will bring about excessive administrative burdens which will damage the smooth functioning of the internal market. Germany has less than two months to reply to the Commission.
“We need to find a fair balance between the social dimension and the internal market”, the Commissioner commented. (Pascal Hansens)