As expected (see EUROPE 12268/6), on Thursday 6 June, the European Union Transport Ministers reached a political agreement (‘general approach’) on the proposal for a Regulation on the electronic exchange of information in the freight transport sector.
This text, which echoes the European Commission's proposal of May 2018 as part of the third ‘mobility’ package (see EUROPE 12022/11), aims to regulate the electronic exchange of information in freight to meet the needs of the sector, at a time when almost 99% of cross-border transport operations in the EU still use paper documents.
The Member States' ambassadors to the European Union (Committee of Permanent Representatives - Coreper) agreed on a text on 24 May last (see EUROPE 12262/3), on the basis of the latest draft agreement presented by the Romanian Presidency of the EU Council on 21 May (see EUROPE 12260/19).
Violeta Bulc, the European Commissioner for Transport Policy, welcomed this political agreement on the text, “which will allow [industry stakeholders] to reduce administrative and logistical costs”.
The European Parliament adopted its position at first reading last March (see EUROPE 12212/32, 12182/10). Interinstitutional negotiations (‘trilogues’) will therefore be able to start in the next semester. (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)