Several organisations active in road transport reacted, in press releases, to the agreement of the EU Transport Ministers of Monday 3 December on the first ‘mobility’ package (see EUROPE 12152), making diverse comments.
The European Road Haulers Association (UETR), in a statement on Thursday 6 December, welcomed the ministers' approach to the application of posting rules to road transport, control rules or market access. Nevertheless, the organisation has some criticisms, in particular regarding the transition to the introduction of V2 smart tachographs on board trucks.
Taking note of the agreement in the Council, the International Road Transport Union (IRU), in a communiqué from 5 December, calls on negotiators, in particular the European Parliament, which is due to speak in January (see EUROPE 12153), to respect certain principles it advocates. In particular, the IRU calls for the authorisation of regular weekly rest periods for drivers in the truck, if the vehicle is parked in safe and secure parking areas.
Finally, organisations of freight forwarders and actors, in particular the European Association for Forwarding, Transport, Logistics and Customs Services (CLECAT), consider, in a joint declaration from 4 December, that the exemptions from the posting rules and the cabotage rules provided for in the agreement are too restrictive. (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)