Brussels, 24/08/2000 (Agence Europe) - In a press release, the International Road Transport Union (IRU) welcomed the fact that the European Commissioner for Transport and Energy, Loyola de Palacio, should have approached OPEC countries to call on them to stem the rise in the price of oil (see EUROPE of 22/23 August, p.2). Ms. De Palacio "is the first European official to have taken note of the disastrous effects of the explosion in oil prices on the transport sector, especially the very sensitive one of hauliers" the IRU notes in a press release. The organisation representing haulage companies urges "all hauliers gathered within UNICE to join its action in backing the realistic approach of Ms. Palacio", and, moreover, calls on the "competent authorities also to take into consideration the presently too heavy a burden of European tax that seriously increases the overall price of petrol"