04 February 2022

CLECAT ROAD INSTITUTE MEETS

The CLECAT Road Logistics Institute met on 1st February to exchange views on developments affecting road transport and logistics at national and EU level. Members discussed the practical implementation of the new rules introduced by the Mobility Package I, the political developments related to the Fit for 55 Package and the new set of proposals for an efficient and green mobility published by the Commission in December 2021.

Members discussed the Commission’s Q&A paper on the practical implementation on the new rules on posting of drivers, which entered into force on 2nd February. This long-awaited document was welcomed, as it aims at a common understanding and a harmonised approach of these rules.  An exchange of views took also place on the new rules on access to market, with new provisions on cabotage and the return of the vehicle, which will enter into force on 21st February 2022. Members expressed the hope that the upcoming implementation guidelines will support a more harmonised implementation of the new rules.

It was noted that most Member States seem not to be ready for the entry into force of these rules, which would undermine their proper enforcement at EU level: to this date, only a few Member States have transposed the Directive on posting of drivers into their national law. Member States must also publish the information applicable to the new rules in their countries, such as information on drivers’ remuneration and the definition of a cabotage operation. CLECAT therefore urges Member States to ensure that the rules are transposed shortly and that the information to freight forwarders, operators and drivers is accessible, structured, and available in several EU languages.

Members received an update on the political developments related to the Fit for 55 Package, namely the EU ETS for road transport and the AFIR proposal. A first assessment of MEP Peter Liese’s draft report on ETS was conducted, and members concluded that the proposed amendments would provide unequal treatment between private and commercial transport, the latter facing a major burden without receiving sufficient incentives to decarbonise their fleets. As outlined in the joint position paper on ETS for road published in January 2022, CLECAT continues to call for the ringfencing of revenues towards road freight transport.