What is New in the Road Package.
On 4 June, as scheduled, the Transport Committee of the European Parliament (EP TRAN) met for a vote on certain commitments and amendments relating to the "Social and market aspects" contained in the Road Package.
This vote is only one of the stages of the European legislative process, so that the sense of vote that has been cast within this Committee does not guarantee that the legislative amendment will fully embrace it.
Among the amendments approved by EP TRAN, we highlight:
1. Revision of the Employee Posting Directive:
This theme, of great importance for the sector, achieved in this vote a first big victory: the MEPs who make up the EP TRAN (EU Transport Commission), despite the strong pressure from some of the central European countries, voted in favor of the total exclusion of international transport from the scope of the Deployment Directive (27 votes vs. 21 votes).
2. Amendment to Regulation 561/2006:
Regarding this issue - driving, rest and rest times - a change was voted that will allow for greater weekly flexibility.
The voted proposal will allow drivers to exceed a maximum of two hours in their weekly driving, provided that is to ensure the driver's return home or to his company headquarters, to do the weekly rest and compensation of the two hours (eg 45h + 2h);
As regards weekly rest (compulsory every 6 days of consecutive work), it has also been approved, that it can be carried out on board the vehicle when it is parked in an appropriate place, with adequate facilities and safety means (eg kitchen, toilets, WI-FI internet access, etc.);
The obligation for transport companies to organize the working days of their drivers in such a way that, on long journeys, they can rest in their homes or in a place chosen by them, before the end of each period of three consecutive weeks of work.
Note: The result of this poll has not yet been released.
3. Time limits for cabotage:
MEPs from EP TRAN (EU Transport Commission) also agreed that cabotage operations should be permitted in the Member State where the international transport operation ends or in another neighboring state on the return to the country where the company is based , and these must be carried out within seven days;
During the said 7-day period, cabotage operations carried out in the Member State where the international transport was completed shall be imitated over a period of 48 hours in such a way that they are not carried out in a systematic manner and thus avoided unfair competition in the national market;
Other cabotage operations in the same country shall not be permitted unless 72 hours have elapsed since the same vehicle returned to the country of registration.
Note: The result of this poll has not yet been released.
We emphasize that there is still a way to go before the final legislation is fully approved, and the above changes can be changed or even rejected.
The next step will be the vote in plenary in the European Parliament.
