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In July 2023, the Commission tabled a package of proposals for the greening of freight transport. Among the three proposals is one on the revision of the Weights and Dimensions Directive, which sets limits for heavy goods vehicles in international road transport. The proposal seeks to further promote use of zero-emission trucks by allowing these to exceed the standard weight limits. It also seeks to clarify the rules on use of heavier and longer vehicles in cross-border transport operations between ...

The current Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 on minimum breaks and rest periods for road freight and passenger transport drivers does not take into account the nature of occasional bus and coach services, and their drivers' specific needs. The European Commission has therefore proposed to amend this legislation and to introduce more flexible rules on splitting up breaks and taking daily and weekly rest periods. In the European Parliament, the Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) is responsible for ...

In response to Russia’s unjustified invasion of Ukraine, the European Union has adopted unprecedented new sanctions. These included a ban of all Russian aircraft from its airspace, to which Russia reacted by banning all EU airlines from its skies. While the full weight of these decisions is only starting to be felt, the implications of the conflict for EU transport are much larger and include steep increases in fuel prices, interruptions to supply chains and the need to ensure the safe return of ...

The July 2020 plenary session was the fifth conducted with Members participating remotely, using the alternative voting procedure put in place in March by Parliament's Bureau, although a majority were present in Brussels. During this session a number of Council and European Commission statements were debated, with the presentation of the programme of activities of the German Presidency a highlight. Members also debated the conclusions of the European Council meeting of 19 June and preparation of ...

The European Union aims to ensure that road transport rules are applied effectively and without discrimination. The current rules governing the access to the international market for coach and bus services appear to have been only partly effective in promoting this mode of transport. There are still differences in rules on access to national markets, differences in openness of national markets, diverse national access arrangements and discrimination in access to terminals in some EU countries. In ...

This note seeks to provide an initial analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the European Commission's impact assessment (IA) accompanying the above mentioned proposal, submitted on 8 November 2017 and referred to Parliament's Committee on Transport and Tourism. Bus and coach transport is an economical, efficient and sustainable mode of transport that can contribute to reducing emissions and to improving accessibility for citizens with low income or living in isolated and low population density ...

This document, provided by Policy Department A at the request of the Employment and Social Affaffairs Committee, analyses trends in the employment conditions of drivers in this sector. In particular, it aims to review whether the current regulatory framework including the Posting of Workers Directive is achieving the desired balance between market integration and social protection of workers, and what steps can be taken to ensure this balance in the future.

The study provides an analysis of the social and working conditions of professional drivers engaged in the road freight transport sector. It concentrates on the fundamental social issues that arise in this transport segment, including driving times and rest periods as well as practical aspects that impact directly on the quality of life of drivers, e.g. employment schemes and income levels. After an overall analysis of the legal framework, which includes the EU legislation relevant for the social ...

The study provides an analysis of the European freight cabotage transport services in the EU and discusses the main changes that have occurred in the regulation of this market in recent years. The entry into force of Regulation (EC) No 1072/2009, and the gradual opening of the market to the Member States, have been the two major drivers of change in the past ten years. The study analyses the amendments that have been made to the Regulation and looks at enforcement provisions within Member States. ...