The meeting of rapporteurs and shadow rapporteurs at the European Parliament on Tuesday 23 October in Strasbourg failed to reach a compromise solution on the social and market aspects of the first ‘mobility’ package (posting of hauliers, driving and resting time, cabotage and tachograph).
This meeting of negotiators of the ‘transport' and ‘employment' committees was expected, almost two weeks after a first meeting in this format (see EUROPE 12115). While the presentation of written proposals by the rapporteurs, namely Merja Kyllönen (GUE/NGL, Finland), Ismail Ertug (S&D, Germany) and Wim van de Camp (EPP, Netherlands) had been considered for last week, the negotiators discussed a one-page document containing key problem areas.
Negotiations in the European Parliament had already failed last July (see EUROPE 12055), more than a year after the Commission published its proposals (see EUROPE 11799). Discussions are continuing in the EU Council and it is not impossible that a general approach will be found by the Transport Ministers in December (see EUROPE 12121).
The proposal put on the table by the rapporteurs incorporates, to a certain extent, the latest suggestions made by the Austrian Presidency of the Council.
Beyond the substantive proposals, it would appear that several MEPs expressed strong criticism of the working method, as the document was sent to them late. In addition, it seems that the debates were lively.
Posting. Thus, the rapporteurs propose to exclude the application of the rules on posting to international transactions between the State of establishment of the company employing the driver and another Member State. That being said, Ms Kyllönen proposes to give the possibility of carrying out ten additional loads or unloads in the meantime without the posting rules applying, implying that they are part of international operations. This proposal was the subject of strong criticism from some Members.
Mrs Kyllönen also proposed to exclude the application of the rules on posting to transit.
But cabotage operations, the road segment of international combined transport, to be linked to the second ‘mobility’ package (see EUROPE 12059, 11900), would be subject to the posting regime.
It would appear that some Members have asked for the Commission's initial approach of applying the posting rules not according to the nature of the transaction, but according to time, to be taken up again. However, according to our information, the majority of MEPs are now ready to work on the basis of this 'Danish fitted solution', following a model similar to the one in Vienna. However, the ten-transaction threshold mentioned above should be abandoned.
Tachograph and market access. The one-page document focused mainly on the application of the posting rules and therefore left only rather marginal space for other issues.
In a desire to apply the rules, however, the negotiators suggest installing second-generation intelligent tachographs in all vehicles operating in other Member States by 2022, with Vienna proposing 2024. A similar technology would also be discussed.
The document also proposes to add criteria for the establishment of companies in order to ensure fair competition between transport operators.
Calendar. While there is still no compromise, the timetable also still seems unclear. The rapporteurs are expected to submit a new written document by next week. The situation is therefore still uncertain about a possible vote at the November plenary session and the majority groups still seem to be divided internally. (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)