Brussels, 07/02/2008 (Agence Europe) - While the European Commission continues to assess the impact of the introduction of “mega lorries” in Europe (see EUROPE 9521), the Dutch-speaking Belgian press revealed on Thursday 7 February, that the Belgian Federal Mobility Minister Yves Leterme intends to allow them in Flanders on a trial basis. Leterme, reported in the dailies of the Sud Presse group, says that an initial pilot of these heavy goods vehicles measuring more than 25 metres and weighing over 60 tonnes will “very shortly begin in Flanders, at its own request”. “We need greater capacity for goods transport,” he said, stating that this decision would not harm the other forms of transport. “Additional federal subsidies will be made available for the transport of containers by rail and there will be more help for inland waterway transport. Road transport is the third way. Here, too, we need greater capacity,” he said. Trials will take place over a six-month period and will begin as soon as possible after minor amendment of Belgian law. The decision has received a mixed reaction in Flanders itself. Flemish Mobility Minister Kethleen Van Bremt said on Thursday 7 February that she hoped that the authorisation of this type of freight transport on the roads of Flanders would be subject to strict measures to ensure road safety. Reacting to the decision of her federal counterpart, Van Bremt referred to a study carried out at her request which demonstrated the weaknesses in the Belgian road infrastructure: roundabouts located near motorway entries and exits, the form of the roads and the quality of the safety rails. The debate on the introduction of mega lorries in Europe has been going on since the start of last year. If they were to be introduced throughout Europe, current European legislation would have to be amended to allow lorries of over 18.75 metres to be driven. In September 2007, the European Parliament proposed that the use of these mega lorries should only allowed on certain roads, at the request of a member state and on its territory (see EUROPE 9496). The European Commission is currently carrying out an impact study on changes to the authorised sizes of vehicles in Europe. The results of this study are expected in May. (A.By.)