CLECAT calls for fair internal market rules instead of burdensome regulation in Road Freight Transport
BRUSSELS (11 October 2017) - In anticipation of first exchanges in the European Parliament on the various legislative proposals of the Mobility Package this week and next, CLECAT has issued its detailed Position Paper on the package’s proposals relating to the internal market and the social pillar.
CLECAT calls on policy makers and politicians to continue to support an internal market for road freight transport, as it remains of key importance for the competitiveness of Europe. In view of the persistent barriers created by national measures, CLECAT remains convinced that clarification and simplification of the current rules accompanied by strengthened enforcement remains the best way to support trade and a competitive market to the benefit of workers and business. Nicolette van der Jagt, Director General of CLECAT notes: ‘For freight forwarders it remains essential to have regulation in place which seeks to improve the overall efficiency and quality of road freight services, without adding to the burden of bureaucracy associated with regulating an industry. Of course, illegal practices or abuses in international road freight transport should be combatted and therefore we are pleased to see mandatory cooperation between Member States concerning enforcement.’
CLECAT believes that the Posting of Workers Directive should not apply to international road transport operations as it would punish those that abide by the rules, and would add a disproportionate administrative burden to the sector. The Commission’s proposal to apply the Posting of Workers Directive, subject to a threshold of 3 days as a total per calendar month spent in the territory of a host Member State, goes against the principles of free movement and does not take into account the sector’s highly mobile workforce and its international character. It will be neither enforceable nor controllable in light of the national differences in systems of minimum wages, minimum paid holidays and composition of wages etc.
CLECAT welcomes the Commission proposals on cabotage as they clarify and simplify the rules which should support better enforcement and control without further fragmentation or restrictions in the EU. In view of the current lack of secure parking areas in Europe and the lack of qualified drivers, CLECAT is of the view that European infrastructure and market circumstances cannot sustain the consequences of the proposal to prohibit the driver from spending their regular weekly rest onboard of their vehicle.
As the Commission’s legal proposals relating to access to the market, access to the profession, posting of workers and the driving and rest times are closely related, CLECAT addresses its positions and proposals in a consolidated position paper.
The response to the Eurovignette proposal can be found in a separate position paper in which CLECAT welcomes the proposal to harmonise road charging and improve the interoperability of toll systems across the EU.