Brussels, 15/03/2007 (Agence Europe) - Yesterday a delegation of coach drivers met the vice president of the Commission in charge of transport, Jacques Barrot. The latter used this occasion to explain how new EU social rules in the road sector would work. These new rules enter into force on 11 April 2007 and stipulate that all drivers of heavy goods vehicles transporting merchandise and passengers must take at least two days holiday (45 hours) every two weeks. The rules increase the daily period of rest time but are being opposed by representatives from the sector.
Yves Mannaerts from the Fédération belge d'Autobus et d'Autocars (FBAA) explained that, “the biggest problem is getting rid of the 12 day rule” in passenger transport, which allowed for driving over a consecutive twelve day period. This will be replaced with a weekly rest period of 24 hours every six days. Mannaerts said that this rule was “particularly interesting” with regard to tourist trips in coaches where drivers have journeys lasting a few hours when they drop their groups off. The new provisions, however, in Regulation (EC) 561/2006 entering into force on 11 April, will require drivers to take a 24 hour rest after 6 days, no matter how many hours have been worked during the week. Mannaerts exclaimed that getting rid of the old system “is not based on justified rules” because no road accident could be attributed to this rule. He said was “pure demagogy” and underlined the purely political character of the decision, given that the “12 day rule” was still contained in the document “up until the trialogue” (between the Parliament, Council and Commission). Yves Mannaerts indicated that, “a coach driver is not a lorry driver” and highlighted the fact that “the sector has been sacrificed in the name of a political agreement”.
Speaking about the social chapter, Mannaerts deplored the fact that the obligatory two day break times for drivers would have a “damaging effect on families” by obliging drivers to take their rest times, “outside the family circle” while on trips abroad.
According to Yves Mannaerts, the drivers who met Commissioner Barrot yesterday, as part of a demonstration in Brussels, want to meet up again in the next few days to “examine the margins of manoeuvre in the new legislation”.
The new packet of EU social rules for road transport (consisting of Regulation 561/2006 and Directive 2006/22/EC laying down the minimum conditions to be respected in this area) was adopted by Parliament and the Council on 15 March 2006. (aby)