26 November 2021

CLECAT Newsletter 2021/43

CLECAT NEWSLETTER
 
Brussels News

FFF2021: BUILDING SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT SUPPLY CHAINS

On 25 November, CLECAT held the 2021 edition of its annual Freight Forwarders’ Forum, entitled ‘Building Sustainable and Resilient Supply Chains’. Following the opening session with keynote introductions from Magda Kopczynska, Director waterborne transport in DG MOVE and Matthias Bauer, Senior Economist at ECIPE, on lessons learned from the COVID-crisis, the event brought a lot of debates and insights on issues impacting on the freight forwarding sector.

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Brussels News

COUNTEMISSIONSEU LAUNCHED

On 19 November, the European Commission published the roadmap for an EU framework for the harmonised measurement of transport and logistics emissions, called "CountEmissions EU". The general objective of this initiative is to incentivise the reduction of emissions from transport and logistics through the establishment of a level-playing field for GHG emissions accounting and the facilitation of behavioural change.

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Brussels News

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLENARY DEBATES PORT CONGESTION AND SURGE IN FREIGHT RATES

At the Plenary session of the European Parliament a debate was held on the disruptions in the maritime supply chain, congestion in ports and increased transport costs affecting the businesses in the EU. Commissioner Helena Dalli represented the European Commission on behalf of Commissioner for Transport Valean.

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MARITIME
 
Maritime

IMO DELAYS LAUNCH OF THE R&D DECARBONISATION FUND

Paul Bartlett from Seatrade Maritime News reported yesterday that the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) has decided this week to delay a decision on the launch of the industry’s $5bn decarbonisation fund until next year, pending further discussion on the operation and priorities of the fund. This will further delay a significant number of research projects in maritime decarbonisation which are currently on hold due to a lack of funding.

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Maritime

US WHITE HOUSE ADDRESS ON SITUATION AT US PORTS

On 17 November, the US White House issued a statement on the situation in US ports and policy measures to mitigate current disruptions in the maritime supply chain. Although there are signs of progress in easing congestion in the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the White House recognises more work is still needed to improve the supply chain.

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AIR
 
Air

CLECAT AIR INSTITUTE DISCUSSES FIT-FOR-55 PACKAGE AND DIGITALISATION

On 26 November, the Air Freight Institute of CLECAT met virtually to discuss legislative and non-legislative developments in the areas of sustainability, digitalisation, aviation security, as well as the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

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SUPPLY CHAIN SECURITY
 
Supply Chain Security

CLECAT SECURITY INSITITUTE DISCUSSES EU CYBERSECURITY

On 22 November, CLECAT’s Supply Chain Security Institute met virtually to discuss developments in the area of land transport-, aviation-, and cybersecurity.

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Supply Chain Security

EP PLENARY ADOPTS RESOLUTION ON SAFE AND SECURE PARKING AREAS

On 25 November, the European Parliament’s plenary adopted a resolution on the safety of truck parking areas in the EU, previously adopted by the Petitions (PETI) Committee on 25 October, asking for more co-ordination among Member States to tackle criminality against drivers and their cargo, and for increased funding to improve facilities, with 681 votes in favour, 1 against and 13 abstentions.

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Supply Chain Security

END OF THE ROAD FOR ROMANIAN CRIMINALS TARGETING CARGO TRANSPORTS

On 26 November, EUROPOL announced that an organised criminal group involving 30 Romanian nationals has been apprehended following an operation conducted by law enforcement authorities in France, Germany and Romania, supported by Europol and Eurojust. The group is suspected of thefts targeting cargo transport rest areas along main road haulage routes between Romania, France and Germany. The group mainly targeted cargo shipments of alcohol and small electronics, stealing goods worth an estimated €2.5 million.

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RAIL
 
Rail

SPANISH SUPPORT SCHEME FOR SEMI-TRAILERS FOR RAIL USE

On 24 November, the European Commission approved, under EU State aid rules, a €2.5 million Spanish scheme to support the purchase of intermodal road semi-trailers suitable for use on rail. The scheme will be partly funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility (‘RRF'), following the Commission's positive assessment of the Spanish Recovery and Resilience Plan and its adoption by Council.

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BREXIT
 
Brexit

UPDATED BORDER OPERATING MODEL

On 18 November, the UK Government published an updated Border Operating Model. The new iteration of the model reflects the revised timetable for the introduction of UK border import controls, as announced on 14 September. It also provides additional material on the detailed implementation of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) controls and the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS). This update will bring the Border Operating Model in line with other guidance available on GOV.UK.

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CUSTOMS & TRADE
 
Customs & Trade

HS 2022 NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

As of 18 November 2021, the online version of the 2022 edition of the Harmonized System Nomenclature is available through the website of the World Customs Organization (WCO). The HS 2022 edition, as the world’s global standard for classifying goods in international trade, will enter into force on 1 January 2022.

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Customs & Trade

WTO WORLD TRADE REPORT 2021

The 2021 edition of the WTO’s World Trade Report examines why the interconnected global trading system is both vulnerable and resilient to crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, how it can help countries to be more economically resilient to shocks, and what can be done to make the system better prepared and more resilient in the future.

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GENERAL
 
General

TRANSPORT DATA IN 2020

Eurostat and the UNCTAD published last week reports on maritime, road and rail freight volumes in 2020. All modes of transport have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and have seen freight volumes drops compared to precedent years.

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FORTHCOMING EVENTS
 

CLECAT Meetings

CLECAT Customs and Indirect Taxation Institute
14 December 2021, Online

CLECAT Air Freight Institute
16 March 2022, location TBC

CLECAT Supply Chain Security Institute
16 March 2022, location TBC

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
1-2 December 2021, Brussels

European Parliament Environment Committee
29-30 November 2021, Brussels

European Parliament Plenary
13-16 December 2021, Strasbourg