During the plenary session on Thursday 18 May, MEPs spoke out against the total liberalisation of cabotage. This discussion was part of the resolution on road transport in the European Union, which they adopted in view of the European Commission’s presentation of the “mobility” package on 31 May next.
This resolution covers a broad range of subjects such as competitiveness and innovation in this sector of activity, cross-border transport, working conditions for lorry drivers and greenhouse gas emissions. With this text, MEPs are effectively calling on the European Commission to take into consideration the different aspects of the mobility package.
Although a vote on this resolution was not obtained at the plenary, Karima Delli (Greens/EFA, France), the chairperson of the European Parliament transport committee said that she was “relieved” by this result. According to her, it was regrettable that the Parliament had not presented a position to the Commission a few days after publication of the proposal.
The social aspects of this future package have provoked tension over the past few weeks and have been the subject of negotiations for a vote on the resolution in question (see EUROPE 11789). It was also the warhorse chosen by the left and unions.
Rejection of unlimited cabotage
One of the key points in the forthcoming text involves cabotage. The European Commission is looking at the possibility of reducing the authorised period for cabotage in a member state (the possibility of bringing this down from seven to five days was envisaged), whilst authorising an unlimited number of operations in this timeframe (see EUROPE 11789). This would enable, for example, a Bulgarian lorry driver to carry out cabotage operations in Luxembourg over a period of five days on Bulgarian wages.
An amendment to the text is the result of a compromise between the left and certain EPP MEPs and was approved by a small majority (336 votes for, 268 against, 9 abstentions). It rejects, “any further liberalisation of cabotage, particularly unlimited cabotage operations during a certain number of days”.
The position of EPP MEPs, particularly the French, was decisive for getting this amendment through. Therefore, Renaud Muselier (EPP, France) stated, “This is a strong message sent to the European Commission a few days before the presentation of its road package. This project seeks to extend the work on the harmonisation of European legislation for transport and the road sector”.
European Road transport agency rejected
Another point at the heart of the political battle between the different groups: the question of setting up a European road transport agency.
Transport committee MEPs agreed on requesting that the Commission consider setting up such an agency, “in view of correctly applying European legislation and promoting standardisation in all member states”. The S&D and Greens/EFA did not succeed in obtaining the EPP’s backing on this point and the idea of the agency was withdrawn in the final resolution (248 votes for, 354 against, 19 abstentions).
Despite the withdrawal of such a mention, the supporters of this resolution appeared to be satisfied, judging by the demeanour of Christine Revault D’Allonnes (S&D, France). According to this MEP, the resolution, “sends positive signal for strengthening the social dimension in road transport… The European parliament now expects proposals from the Commission on how to ensure that its priorities are indeed taken into account for improving the working conditions of lorry drivers”. (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)