With 330 votes in favour, 207 against and 74 abstentions, the European Parliament adopted its negotiating position on the revision of the rules relating to the weights and dimensions of road vehicles (see EUROPE 13350/7) at its plenary session on Tuesday 12 March. Rejected by the Greens/EFA, the text divided the other political families.
The maximum weight of trucks would be increased from 40 to 44 tonnes in order to “compensate for the space and weight required to fit batteries or hydrogen cells and provide additional loading capacity. The new rules will create real incentives for companies to switch to zero-emission trucks and make road freight traffic more sustainable and safer”, commented the rapporteur, Isabel García Muñoz (S&D, Spanish), in a press release.
“Zero emission vehicles must become the backbone of road transport. It is also important to make sure the same load can be transported with fewer vehicles, fewer trips and reduced emissions”, she added.
MEPs thus adopted the European Commission’s initial proposal, which leaves it up to the Member States to authorise the circulation of mega-trucks, which are longer and heavier than the limits imposed by the EU. Those making this choice will have to carry out a prior assessment of the impact on road safety, infrastructure, modal cooperation and the environment.
A European label on the length of these vehicles will be created, as well as a web portal with information about the applicable weight and length limits in each EU country and which roads are designated for mega trucks.
Amendments were tabled to reject the increase in weight and the authorisation of mega-trucks, but were not adopted. These amendments were supported by the Greens/EFA and The Left, but divided the other political groups, who voted in scattered order.
“Unfortunately, Parliament has chosen to increase the competitiveness of road transport, contrary to our commitment to the green transition of transport and road safety”, was the criticism from Dominique Riquet MEP (Renew Europe, French) in a press release.
“There is no such thing as an electric mega-truck. It's killing rail freight”, lamented Karima Delli (Greens/EFA, French) at a press briefing.
“We must not bring European freight logistics to its knees, but proceed keeping the necessary sense of proportion”, was the defence from Markus Ferber (EPP, German), who voted in favour. “Given the volume of goods moved across European roads every day, there is no other way for road freight transport then being a part of an integrated logistics system”, he added.
The Council of the EU is still discussing the text.
Read the report as adopted: https://aeur.eu/f/ba1 (Original version in French by Anne Damiani, with Nithya Paquiry)