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The European Commission has authorised, under EU State aid rules, a French scheme amounting to €450 million to support Single wagonload services. The scheme, applicable until 31 December 2025, aims to promote the shift of freight transport from road to rail by encouraging single wagonload transport.

On 11 October, the European Commission published its second annual report on the Implementation and Enforcement of EU Trade Agreements, which provides an overview of the main activities to ensure effective implementation of EU trade agreements in 2021 and the first quarter of 2022.

Following the approval by the European Parliament’s plenary on 6 October, Member States have reached an agreement on 13 October regarding the waiver from slot-use requirements at EU airports. The deal foresees temporary measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath and to air travel impacts of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

Earlier this week, the CLECAT Road Logistics Institute met to exchange views on developments affecting road transport and logistics at national and EU level. Members discussed the impact of the war in Ukraine on road transport, the revision of the Weights and dimensions Directive and the political developments related to the Fit for 55 Package.

On 7 October the US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) proposed a new rule that seeks to bring more clarity, structure, and punctuality to the demurrage and detention billing practices of ocean carriers and terminal operators. As required by the OSRA of 2022, the FMC has been mandated to implement technical requirements and specifications for D&D billings.

CLECAT has published its position paper on the revision of the Weights and Dimensions Directive. CLECAT welcomes the Commission initiative to revise Directive 96/53/EC, setting standards for the maximum authorised weights and dimensions of heavy-duty vehicles used in national and international transport. In line with the EU climate ambitions and to alleviate the structural shortage of drivers affecting road transport supply chains, the revision of the Directive should contribute to a more efficient and low-emission transport system and harmonised rules for cross-border operations.

On 13 October, CLECAT participated in a workshop organised by the European Safe Parking Organisation (ESPORG), together with DG MOVE and the European Climate Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), on how to obtain EU funding under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) funding call, which makes available €250 million to improve the network of Safe and Secure Truck Parking Areas (SSTPAs) across the EU.