The second draft compromise on the electronic exchange of information in freight, presented by the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 17 April and of which EUROPE has received a copy, is in the same spirit as the first text on the table.
Indeed, few significant changes are to be noted with regard to the first draft compromise from 13 March last as detailed in our columns (see EUROPE 12214/31).
The discussions on this subject echo the European Commission's proposal of last May, as part of the third ‘mobility’ package (see EUROPE 12022/11). The aim here is to regulate the electronic exchange of information in freight to meet the needs of the sector, where almost 99% of cross-border transport operations are still associated with the use of paper documents in the EU today.
Among the few changes envisaged by Bucharest compared to the first text, it should be noted that some elements of the definition have been completed or added. In addition, a specific provision for the shipment of waste is envisaged, so that the competent authorities in the Member States accept the submission of electronic information on the subject.
In addition, guidance is provided on the implementing acts that the Commission should take to establish and amend datasets or subsets of data concerning electronic freight transport information (‘eFTI’) and common procedures and detailed rules for competent authorities to access eFTI platforms. Thus, if these recommendations are adopted, the Commission should seek to ensure, within this framework, the interoperability of eFTI common data sets and subsets with internationally accepted data models, take into account relevant international conventions or enhance the efficiency of the administrative procedures.
As part of the follow-up, while the Commission initially requested information from States on the implementation of the future Regulation every 2 years, it is suggested that this information be provided every 5 years and, for the first time, three years after the Regulation starts to apply. Finally, Bucharest proposes that this Regulation should start to take effect 6 years after its entry into force, when the Commission was arguing for an application 4 years after its entry into force.
This text will be examined by the national experts of the EU Council's Working Party on ‘Transport – Intermodal Questions and Networks’ on 3 May.
On the European Parliament's side, due to the absence of a potential start and a potential conclusion of interinstitutional negotiations (‘trilogues’) on this subject by the end of the MEPs' mandate, MEPs adopted their position at first reading in March (see EUROPE 12212/32, 12182/10). (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)