Newsletters

On 19 July, CLECAT submitted its response to the public consultation on the evaluation of Directive 96/53/EC on Weights and Dimensions for heavy-duty vehicles. The Directive sets out standards for the maximum weights and dimensions of heavy-duty vehicles used in national and international transport.

On 19 July, Ministers and officials from 119 countries convened at ICAO for high-level discussions and briefings toward a new collective global long-term reduction goal for international aviation CO2 emissions. The new international emissions reduction goal is expected to be formally established at the 41st ICAO Assembly in September, and States had asked the ICAO Council to work in advance of that event to help them explore the feasibility of various emissions reduction options.

Shipping consultants reported this week that container freight rates have further decreased, corresponding to the broader trend of decreasing freight rates since early 2022, but have not reached pre-pandemic levels yet.

On 20 July, the European Commission adopted an amendment to the State aid Temporary Crisis Framework to support the EU economy in the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Earlier this month, the Commission consulted Member States on a draft proposal to adjust the Framework.

On 21 July, the Council adopted new measures intended to tighten existing economic sanctions targeting Russia, perfect their implementation and strengthen their effectiveness.

CLECAT and nine other trade organisations, representing the owners and forwarders of cargo, port terminal operators and other parts of the supply chain dependent on container shipping, issued a joint press statement today, following a joint letter to Vice-President Vestager demanding an immediate start to the review of European Union’s Consortia Block Exemption Regulation for the container shipping industry.

Smart Freight Centre has released the 2021 Clean Cargo Global Ocean Container Greenhouse Gas Emission intensities report. This publication supports transparent tracking of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with ocean containerized cargo transportation.

On 13 July, the European Parliament’s Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) Committee adopted two reports on the revisions of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) and the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), proposed by the Commission as part of the Fit for 55 Package. MEPs voted to increase the share of renewable energy and energy efficiency targets to match the EU climate ambitions.

On 15 July, the European Commission put forward a draft EU proposal for Ukraine to be invited to join the Common Transit Conventions (CTC) – an international framework for the customs transit of goods that ensures simplified procedures between the EU and partner countries.