Although the negotiations on the social and market aspects of the “Mobility Package 1” (posted drivers, driving and resting time, cabotage) broke down before the summer break, the return to work after the summer vacation also appears very uncertain given the busy timetable.
The negotiations on these very sensitive political issues are based on the European Commission's initial proposals at the end of May 2017 (see EUROPE 11799).
Since the beginning, divisions have appeared between those supporting harmonisation of social and market rules, led by representatives from western Europe, particularly the countries in the Road Alliance (Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg and Sweden) and those upholding road transport sector liberalisation, from central, eastern and peripheral Europe.
After more than a year after the presentation of the proposals, the negotiations are stalling at both the European Parliament and Council.
EP renegotiations in sight. MEPs at the EP transport committee examined the social and market aspects of the “Mobility I” package over a period of many weeks. The debates were heated, and geographic divisions prevailed over those of a more political nature (see EUROPE 11945, 11985).
Although those advocating liberalisation of the social rules won the first round during a Parliamentary committee vote in June (see EUROPE 12034), particularly after Manfred Weber (EPP, Germany) had called on EPP MEPs to vote in favour of the more liberally leaning compromise, the MEPs meeting for a plenary session rejected the inter-institutional negotiating mandates (‘trilogues’) in mid-June (see EUROPE 12041), which meant that they were able to reopen the texts.
In addition, these same MEPs rejected the texts amended at the beginning of July, which also occurred during a plenary session (see EUROPE 12055).
The question at stake now appears very complicated. The EP transport committee will have to examine the draft texts again. The result of the discussions and votes over the past few months, however, leaves little room for optimism about the possibility of reaching a satisfactory solution to all the different parties, explained several different parliamentary sources.
The Austrian Presidency of the Council would like to reach a political agreement in principle (“general approach”).
The negotiations between the member states are turning out to be as hard going as those at the EP. The liberally leaning compromise drafts of the previous Bulgarian Presidency, which our publication provided reports on several occasions (see EUROPE 11977, 11996), were discussed during the Council “land transport” working party on more than 20 occasions but did not produce any solid compromise on these issues.
At the beginning of June in Luxembourg, European Transport Ministers took note of the disagreements (see EUROPE 12036). Norbert Hofer then surprised his colleagues by expressing his wish to organise a conclave in the autumn, attended by representatives from two countries from the Road Alliance and two representatives from central, eastern and peripheral Europe, in an effort to obtain appropriate solutions.
Although this idea has not yet been formally put into practice, Vienna has been organising bilateral meetings attended by representatives from a number of different countries, since the beginning of its Presidency of the Council. On the other hand, the idea raised by several ministers to organise a special Transport Council meeting in September, has been rejected.
Although Austria is remaining very cautious, the goal is still to obtain agreement on a general approach during the December Council meeting. The first Austrian compromise drafts could possibly be submitted to national experts by the end of September (see EUROPE 12064).
Finalisation of the dossier by the end of the EP legislature is very unlikely. Both the Council and EP agree that obtaining a positive outcome on this dossier before spring 2019 will be very difficult, even though the Commission does not share this “pessimism” (see EUROPE 12056). (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)