24 June 2022

CLECAT WEEK IN BRUSSELS

The CLECAT Board, General Assembly and institutes met last week in Brussels. It was for some members the first occasion to meet again with other member associations in person in Brussels, to discuss and plan for the coming year, addressing priories but also to address ongoing logistics and supply chain issues.  

On 14 June, the Air Freight Institute of CLECAT met to discuss legislative and non-legislative developments in the areas of digitalisation, aviation security, sustainability, as well as the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. During the meeting, members exchanged views with representatives from the European Commission’s DG MOVE Aviation Policy Unit on the revision of the EU Aviation Acquis. Members highlighted the necessary action for improving the quality of ground handling services, as well as creating a fair, transparent and market-oriented system for slot allocation. Discussions were also held on the progress in implementing e-freight, as well as the progress in aviation-related sustainability files (ReFuel EU Aviation and EU ETS for Aviation).

On 14 June, CLECAT’s Supply Chain Security Institute met to discuss developments in the area of land transport-, aviation-, and cybersecurity. The Institute discussed developments in cargo crime, the importance of the Delegated Regulation for Safe and Secure Parking Area (SSTPA) Standards, as well as the potential for a reporting and monitoring scheme at EU level and shared its views in that regard with MEP Vlad Gheorghe (RENEW, Romania). Members also discussed the upcoming changes in aviation security legislation, the EU Toolbox against Counterfeiting, as well as the NIS2 Directive. During the meeting, a focus was placed on the ongoing preparations for Release 2 of the Import Control System 2.0 (ICS2) for general air cargo in March 2023, as well as Release 3 for road, rail and maritime in March 2024.

The CLECAT Road Logistics Institute met on 15 June to exchange views on developments affecting road transport and logistics at national and EU level. Members received a report on the recent EU-level initiatives with regards to the impact of the war in Ukraine on road transport and exchanged on the implementation of the EU sanctions against Russian/Belarussian Road transport undertakings. The Institute also exchanged on the Commission’s Q&A on the regular return of the truck. Members received an update on the policy development of the Fit for 55 Package and the upcoming revision of the CO2 standards for heavy-duty vehicles. Finally, members discussed the EC public consultation for the revision of the Weights and Dimensions Directive, for which CLECAT is drafting its response.

In the afternoon, the CLECAT Maritime Logistics Institute was convened to exchange on the latest developments impacting sea freight forwarders, notably the ongoing disruptions in the maritime supply chain. The Institute received a report on the implementation of the EU sanctions against Russia and Belarus and the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes initiative. Members discussed the upcoming ITF report on performance in the maritime logistics chain and reflected on the future evaluation and revision of the Consortia Block Exemption Regulation. Members also exchanged on the recent policy developments in the US with the adoption of the OSRA and the publication FMC’s Fact Finding 29 final report. Finally, members received a presentation on the policy developments of the maritime-related files of the Fit for 55 Package, and on the preparations for Release 3 of the Import Control System 2.0 (ICS2) for maritime transport in March 2024.

On 17 June, CLECAT’s Customs and Indirect Taxation Institute (CITI) met in Brussels to discuss important customs and trade-related developments impacting European freight forwarders and customs brokers. During the meeting, members discussed the recently published evaluation of the UCC implementation, which largely reflects the input provided by CLECAT and its members, as well as the final report of the Wise Persons’ Group on the challenges affecting the EU Customs Union. An important topic of the meeting was the implementation of the UCC Work Programme, and the delayed implementation of some key IT projects, including Member States’ entry and import systems, CCI, AES-NCTS and ICS2 Release 2. The meeting also reflected on relevant regulatory developments at EU-level concerning the application of customs procedures and formalities, including ongoing deliberations on the application of customs procedures and formalities. Members also exchanged views on the continuing impact of the war in Ukraine on logistics and shared their experiences with the implementation of the EU sanctions against Russia and Ukraine.