On the evening of Tuesday 26 October, negotiators from the Council of the EU and the European Parliament reached an interim agreement on vehicles hired without drivers for freight transport (2006/1/EC) (see EUROPE 12819/4).
It took two hours for the main issues to be resolved, including the length of time to which an EU Member State can restrict the use of a vehicle hired without a driver on its territory.
In concrete terms, the interim agreement provides for hauliers to be able to use a vehicle hired without a driver from another Member State for a guaranteed period of two months. However, Member States would have the possibility to require, according to their own national rules, the registration of a vehicle on their territory after 30 days of use.
“Regarding this possibility for Member States, it would have to be possible under national law. It can certainly be modified, but the two-month guarantee option should be the most frequently used”, a source close to the case told EUROPE.
In addition, the issue of the number of vehicles hired without a driver by a company was also discussed. On this point, the agreement confirms the compromise previously reached between the Council of the EU and the European Parliament, and states that hired vehicles may not represent more than 25% of a company’s overall fleet.
“This agreement allows companies to hire additional trucks more easily, instead of buying them, to meet seasonal needs”, summarised Cláudia Monteiro de Aguiar (EPP, Portugal), rapporteur on this dossier.
The agreement will now have to be adopted by the EU Council and the European Parliament. A transposition period of 14 months is foreseen. (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)