Brussels, 24/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has rejected France's request for a “safeguard clause” to be introduced when road cabotage is relaxed in the EU, explained the French secretary of state for transport, Dominique Bussereau, on Thursday 23 July 2009. According to AFP, Bussereau said the Commission felt the request could not be considered in the light of the principles adopted at EU level by heads of state in the context of the current economic crisis.
On 30 April 2009, France asked to be granted the power to introduce a safeguard clause to stall implementation of relaxation of cabotage in light of its road transport industry and the likely impact of extending cabotage to seven new member states (Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania), a measure that came into force on 1 May 2009. The same request from France was rejected at a meeting in Brussels on 4 June 2009 between French representatives and EU Transport Commissioner Antonio Tajani to discuss the economic crisis. Meanwhile, Bussereau has decided to increase the number of cabotage controls carried out in France each year to 20,000 and to double the fines levied to €15,000 against cabotage that does not comply with EU rules. The Commission has promised to tighten up controls on cabotage by ensuring controllers are better trained and also by facilitating the cross-border legal proceedings against serious cases of non-compliance. In a letter sent to professional transport organisations, cited by AFP, Bussereau said that discussions would be continuing between the French government and the European Commission on the subject of “social regulation” of cabotage. (A.B./transl.fl)