Brussels, 10/12/2015 (Agence Europe) - Transport Ministers meeting on Thursday 10 December in Brussels, expressed their determination to step up their cooperation in the fight against the fraud endemic in the road sector. The European Commission intends to put forward a “road transport” package in 2016.
France therefore supports the idea of setting up a European agency in the long term, to monitor the practices of hauliers at a European level. Overall, the majority of member states consider it necessary to step up their cooperation in this area, although some of them, following the line of the Visegrad group, said that they should ensure that this initiative avoids any superfluous red tape.
On the social chapter, member states reached an agreement to simplify and clarify European legislation on working and rest time but also on the need to introduce greater flexibility. In this connection, Belgium is proposing the introduction of exemptions but at a European rather than a national level, in an effort to ensure greater market unity. Some member states, following the line of Hungary, rejected the idea of including lorry drivers in the directive on posted workers, given that they are, by their very essence, mobile workers. Romania warned against any protectionist measures and called for proportionate decisions. Spain highlighted the specific situation in countries neighbouring Europe, which could encourage drivers to drive for longer distances and periods, forcing them to sleep in their lorries. On this point, Belgium indicated that the lorry was a “work tool and not a living area”, whilst the Netherlands thought that it was possible to sleep in lorries.
Three difficulties were also highlighted by the member states overall: the problem of different legislation regarding cabotage, which allows for a company to offer its services between two foreign cities, the expansion of fictitious companies or “letterbox companies” and, finally, transport vehicles of less than 3.5 t, which are not covered by European legislation and allow for certain transporters to transgress the rules.
Although there appears to be a broad consensus on the first two points between member states, which are calling for legislation and the definition of cabotage to be clarified and the growing phenomenon of “letterbox companies”, opinions are more at odds on the last point. Some countries, such as the United Kingdom and Latvia do not want to include lighter vehicles. Such a provision could also affect farmers and incur administrative surcharges for small local companies that do not do business abroad.
Overall, all the member states agreed on the fact that the road sector was too fragmented, particularly on social questions, for them to be able to envisage greater liberalisation. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)