Brussels, 03/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 5 June, the European Parliament is expected to approve the report by Mathieu Grosch (EPP-ED, Belgium) on access to the coach and bus services market by amending it in line with the agreement concluded on 22 May by social partners on the rules of driving and resting periods for bus and coach drivers (see EUROPE 9666).
The proposal, which the EP is expected to endorse, aims to reintroduce into occasional crossborder passenger transport (for example coach tours), a derogation to the existing European legislation in order to allow drivers to defer off-duty time by 12 consecutive days. This possibility was abolished with entry into force, on 11 April 2007, of a new regulation making it an obligation for bus and coach drivers to have 24 hours' rest every 6 days (see EUROPE 9387). Recourse to the derogation should, however, come within the framework of certain conditions relating to driving and rest time, as agreed by social partners. According to the joint proposal to be put to the vote by EPP-ED, PES and ALDE groups, the exemption could be applied if the journey involves at least 24 hours in a country other than the country of departure; if the extended duty time is compensated by a weekly rest period of at least 45 hours and a compensatory rest period of 24 hours taken all in one go before the end of the third week following recourse to the derogation. The modalities and conditions for this additional rest period should be established in line with national legislation. In the event of night driving (between 22: 00 and 6: 00), the driver should be assisted by another driver or stop every three hours. As of 1 January 2014, the derogation can only be applied to vehicles equipped with a tachograph. The amendment, proposed by Mr Grosch on behalf of the EPP-ED, by Willy Pecyk (Germany) on behalf of the Socialist Group, and by Dirk Sterckx (Belgium) on behalf of the Liberal Alliance, takes on board the provisions of the agreement reached by the social partners in the sector and aims to protect travel by low cost coach companies in particular. Without this derogation, companies would be forced to employ a second driver for each journey by coach that exceeds one week, which would considerably raise the cost of travel. According to the IRU (International Road Transport Union), the new legislation has caused a 25%-30% rise in cost for operators due above all to the obligation to employ a second driver (says IRU). Wages and social charges amount to about €150 per driver per day, coupled with an additional €100/day to cover food and lodging. (A.By.)