News

SAVE THE DATE: FREIGHT FORWARDERS FORUM 2021

CLECAT’s Freight Forwarders Forum entitled ‘building sustainable and resilient supply chains’ will take place on 25 November in Brussels in a hybrid format.

COMMISSION 2022 WORK PROGRAMME

On 19 October, the European Commission published its 2022 Work Programme, setting out a list of legislative and non-legislative actions planned for the next year. Titled Making Europe Stronger Together, the work programme consists of six priorities, including the ‘European Green Deal’, ‘A Europe Fit for the Digital Age’ and ‘An Economy that Works for People’.

FMC PUTS PRESSURE ON CARRIERS OVER D&D SURCHARGES

Last week, the US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) sent letters to 25 container lines and the World Shipping Council to call on ocean carriers to rapidly adopt three common best practices related to detention and demurrage that promote clarity and certainty about how and when fees will be assessed as well as how to challenge disputed charges.

OECD COUNTRIES FINALISE AGREEMENT ON GLOBAL MINIMUM CORPORATE TAX

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) announced on 8 October that 136 countries joined the Statement on the Two-Pillar Solution to Address the Tax Challenges Arising from the Digitalisation of the Economy. It updates and finalises a July political agreement by members of the BEPS Inclusive Framework to fundamentally reform international tax rules.

UK GOVERNMENT PLANS TO SUSPEND CABOTAGE RESTRICTIONS

The UK government announced last week that it is planning to allow non-UK operators temporary extra cabotage rights within Great Britain. In order to alleviate pressures in the supply chain associated with the current shortage in lorry drivers, the proposal would allow unlimited cabotage movements of heavy goods vehicles for up to 14 days after arriving on a laden international journey into the UK compared to the current rights of 2 cabotage journeys within 7 days of entry.

EC APPROVES €15 MILLION AID TO PROMOTE RAIL FREIGHT IN SLOVENIA

On 20 October, the European Commission approved, under EU State aid rules, a €15 million Slovenian aid scheme to support rail freight transport in Slovenia. The measure will support single wagon transport and combined transport.

CARGO IQ NAMES LOTHAR MOEHLE AS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

On 13 October, the cross-stakeholder air cargo organisation Cargo iQ announced Mr Lothar Moehle as its new Executive Director. Mr Moehle, who is currently Director AVSEC and Governance at DB Schenker, brings over four decades of experience in the air cargo and logistics sectors. He is currently also the Chair of the CLECAT Air Logistics Institute and a member of the CLECAT Board.

PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON DRONE STRATEGY 2.0

On 11 October, the European Commission launched a public consultation for ‘A Drone Strategy 2.0 for a smart and sustainable unmanned aircraft eco-system in Europe’. The initiative will be presented in 2022.

EU-GB TRADE VIA SHORT STRAITS TECHNICAL WEBINAR

On 8 November, from 15:00 to 17:00 CET, the UK Border and Protocol Delivery Group (BPDG) and French Customs will hold a technical webinar covering the steps economic operators need to take to move goods from the EU to Great Britain after 1 January 2022. The event is organised especially for hauliers, transport and logistics associations, customs brokers and freight forwarders.

EU PROPOSES NEW ARRANGEMENTS FOR IRISH PROTOCOL

Last week, the European Commission proposed new practical arrangements for the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland, that aim to facilitate the movement of goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. The measures came in response to the difficulties that people in Northern Ireland have been experiencing because of Brexit.

FINANCING ALTERNATIVE FUELS INFRASTRUCTURE

On 18 October, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Commission signed an agreement that will make it possible to combine EU grants and long-term EIB financing for alternative fuels infrastructure projects. The agreement comes under the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF) and is part of the European Union’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) transport programme.

TELECOM MINISTERS DEBATE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ACT

On 14 October, the EU telecommunications ministers held their first in-depth policy debate on the proposed Artificial Intelligence Act (AI-Act), to provide political guidance for further work on this proposal. The discussion, which can be followed here, focused on the Act’s regulatory design and the challenges involved in its effective implementation.

LIBE COMMITTEE ENDORSES REPORT ON RESILIENCE OF CRITICAL ENTITIES

On 12 October, the European Parliament’s Civil Liberties (LIBE) Committee endorsed its report on the proposal for a Directive on the Resilience of Critical Entities (CER Directive), introducing new rules to better protect essential services including transport, energy and drinking water.

CLECAT Meetings

CLECAT Road Logistics Institute
26 October 2021, Online

CLECAT Supply Chain Security Institute
22 November 2021, Online

CLECAT Board/GA
25 November 2021, Brussels

CLECAT Freight Forwarders Forum
25 November 2021, Brussels

CLECAT Air Logistics Institute
26 November 2021, Brussels

CLECAT Maritime Logistics Institute
30 November 2021, Online

EU Meetings

Council of the European Union

Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council
2-3 December, Brussels
9 December 2021, Brussels

Environment Council
20 December 2021, Brussels

European Parliament

European Parliament Transport Committee
27-28 October 2021, Brussels
Including a Public Hearing on “Impact of the Belt and Road initiative (BRI) on modal shift and European Economic Exchanges”

European Parliament Environment Committee
27-28 October 2021, Brussels

European Parliament Plenary
10-11 November 2021, Brussels