Brussels, 02/07/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday, the European Parliament adopted (350 votes for, 189 against, with 16 abstentions in first reading (co-decision)), the report by Gilles Savary (PES, France). This amendment modifies the draft directive to set up harmonised rules on restrictions of heavy-goods traffic on weekends and holidays throughout the Community. Parliament wants directive provisions to be applicable from 1 July 2005. It rejected Markus Ferber (CSU), Wilhelm Piecyk (SPD), Johannes Woboda (SPÖ) and Reinhard Rack's (ÖVP) demands to throw out the draft directive.
The Parliament also threw out two major amendments in the report focusing on the possibilities of extending traffic restrictions. Three types of dispensation are proposed: 1) Noise pollution (with the preliminary agreement of the Commission), 2) Social, ecological or security reasons pollution (with the preliminary agreement of the Commission accompanied by a document for justification), 3) Seasonal reasons or for exceptional itineraries. Although the report calls on Member States to give notification six months in advance for extensions, whilst exempting them from providing justifications for the second kind of dispensation, Parliament re-established the initial proposal to not give six months notice but to justify demands out of social, ecological or safety reasons. The Parliament approved report amendments focusing on 1) Implementation of a real-time European information system to inform lorry drivers of traffic restrictions in the Trans-European network, 2) Social measures to avoid regional disparities caused by these restrictions, 4) the setting up of parking and washrooms for lorry drivers who have to stop driving, 5) Dispensation for vehicles transporting flowers or horticultural products.
The plenary debate on Monday evening reflected the divergences expressed during the committee vote (33 for, 10 against and 4 abstentions) between those supporting the freedom of movement and environmentalists, as well as citizens wishing to avoid roads clogged up with lorries - at least on the weekend. The debate also saw a clash between ardent defenders of subsidiarity and those who recognise that the Union has something to say in this field - divisions even arose in the same EEP group. In a reflection of this we saw CSU MEP, Markus Ferber criticising the European Commission for meddling in something that should really be left to Member States. He exclaimed that there would never be harmonisation of national holidays and called on the plenary to reject the proposal because if it were approved, Mr Ferber claimed, we would give the EU the right to impose bans on motorists in Member States. "There is no European surplus value", he thundered. On the same side, CDU MEP, George Jarzembowski, replied that it was abnormal to make appeals to the Commission to ensure free circulation and say at the same time "the EU has nothing to do with this issue". Mr Jarzembowski insisted that if we wanted European transport networks to work efficiently, EU rules would be needed because those travelling needed to know whether they would get to their destinations or not. "Let's approve this report and approve the excellent idea of Gilles Savary to put in place a European road information mechanism", Mr Jarzembowski exhorted. But while the Commissioner for Transport, Loyola de Palacio, explained that she agreed in principle, she pointed out that a cost analysis would be needed first of all.
The Savary report was warmly welcomed, particularly by Portuguese Socialist, Joaquim Vairinhos, who found the new Commission proposal, "balanced, well reformulated and completely justified"; notably in relation to enlargement. Helmuth Markov, PDS MEP (Germany) claimed that the directive would introduce much needed legal security. But Jeffrey William Titford's (UK Independence Party (Europe of Democracies and Differences) chain was really rattled when "European territory" was mentioned - 22 miles over the Channel, "makes a great deal of difference", he retorted. "You ought to learn to drive on the left like us…we're quite capable of making up our own rules", he added before concluding that, "We don't need harmonisation.
Loyola de Palacio welcomed the "skilful and subtle" way in which the rapporteur had dealt with such a sensitive issue, "after the two previous failures". The Commissioner explained that the problems were real enough and were in danger of getting worse after enlargement. A "clear, sustainable" system was needed, she said, which, "obtains balance between citizens' rights and the freedom of transit". She also pointed out that 7 Member States out of the 15 were imposing restrictions on certain kinds of vehicles.