MEPs at the European Parliament’s transport committee have rejected the report on cross-border parcel delivery, for which Lucy Anderson (S&D, United Kingdom) is the rapporteur.
Although on the eve of the vote one European source confirmed to EUROPE that the vote would be a very close-run thing, an administrative error in the voting list was the reason for the tension that began as soon as the voting session opened. MEPs from the EPP, particularly Wim van de Camp (EPP, Netherlands), called for the vote to be adjourned and for it to therefore take place after the summer recess.
After the vote on the compromise and amendments, the final vote took place and the text was rejected. Out of the 47 MEPs on the committee, 21 approved the report and 21 opposed it, whilst 5 MEPs abstained. According to one parliamentary source, this vote is due to the lobbying of the German DHL company, which led to a lack of support from certain socialist MEPs in the German delegation.
The objective of the European Commission proposal was published on 25 May (see EUROPE 11558) and seeks to increase price transparency and improve regulatory monitoring of prices. The Council of the EU also agreed on a compromise on 9 June last (see EUROPE 11805). Following this rejection, Lucy Anderson will now have to meet up with shadow rapporteurs in an effort to thrash out further compromises. (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)