Lithuania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Malta and Poland have “very recently” brought actions before the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) concerning the ‘mobility I’ package, a spokesperson for the institution confirmed to EUROPE on Monday 26 October, adding that these actions should soon be published in the Official Journal of the EU.
On the same day, Hungarian Justice Minister Judit Varga announced on Twitter and Facebook that her government had referred the controversial legislative package adopted last July (see EUROPE 12524/19) to the CJEU “for the annulment of certain provisions”, in order to reform the road transport sector.
Budapest denounces “protectionist measures” that “undermine the EU’s internal market and deliberately strengthen the undue competitive advantage of Western European Member States”.
The Hungarian minister also accuses some of the provisions of being “contrary to EU climate protection objectives”.
An impact study carried out by the European Commission should make it possible to assess the consequences on the environment and on the functioning of the single market of two of the controversial measures introduced by this reform: the compulsory return of the vehicle to the State of establishment every 8 weeks and the restrictions imposed on combined transport operations.
Invoking arguments similar to those of the Hungarian minister, the Bulgarian (see EUROPE 12587/15) and Lithuanian (see EUROPE 12551/31) governments had already publicly announced that they wanted to bring their cases before the European courts.
The list of the six states that have lodged appeals could be further extended, the CJEU is told. That is no surprise. Nine Central and Eastern European States opposed this reform throughout the legislative process (see EUROPE 12459/25, 12518/7) and continue to oppose it, in particular through their ministers for transport (see EUROPE 12577/5).
In particular, these States contest the provisions obliging the lorry to return to the State of establishment, restricting cabotage operations and prohibiting weekly rest periods on board the vehicle. (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)