CLECAT POSITION PAPER ON AN EU TOOLBOX AGAINST COUNTERFEITING
On 3 March, CLECAT submitted its position paper in
response to the call for evidence on the EU toolbox against
counterfeiting, expressing its support of the Commission’s intention to
set up an EU toolbox to step up the fight against counterfeiting. CLECAT
welcomes the introduction of an EU Toolbox based on reported practices
and principles developed in the context of various industry-led
initiatives.
US PRESIDENT BIDEN ADRESSES ANTI-COMPETITIVE BEHAVIOUR IN SHIPPING
On 1st March, US President Joe Biden announced in
his State of the Union speech new steps to address the anti-competitive
behaviour of ocean carriers. The measures which aim at lowering rates
and levelling the playing field in ocean shipping were published in a
White House briefing on 28 February.
The European Commission has published this week a
set of Questions and Answers on the rules of cabotage under Regulation
(EC) 1072/2009. The Q&A covers the new rules on cabotage introduced
by Regulation (EU) 2020/1055 which entered into force on 21st February
2022.
The EP’s Transport and Tourism Committee adopted on 3
March a recommendation for second reading on revised rules for the use
of hired vehicles for goods transport, by 40 votes in favour, 4 against
and 4 abstentions. The TRAN Committee therefore approved the Council
position at first reading and calls on the EP Plenary to formally adopt
the revised Directive.
In view of the Russian Federation’s unprovoked and
unjustified military aggression against Ukraine, the European Union
imposed an unprecedented number of sanctions against the Russian
Federation, in addition to the Russian embargos in place since 2014.
On 3 March, the French Truck Etape Béziers parking
facility was voted European Truck Parking of the Year 2022 by ESPORG’s
international jury, composed of representatives of leading road
transport stakeholders and governmental and non-governmental
institutions and bodies, including CLECAT. Next to the excellent
security standard offered, the jury commended in particular the
completeness and excellence of the winner’s service offer to drivers and
attention to the smallest details, including environment, health,
recreation, affordability, and indeed individual care to every single
driver.