EC SETS OUT ITS PRIORITIES FOR THE FIRST HALF OF 2023
The European Commission recently adopted a tentative agenda for the first six months of 2023, setting out the initiatives that will be adopted by the College of Commissioners. The document notes that the package for greening transport should be presented and adopted on 21 June 2023.
As previously announced by the Commission, this Package will mainly focus on freight transport: the College of Commissioners intends to adopt a revision of the Weights and Dimensions Directive, a Revision of the Combined Transport Directive and propose an EU framework for harmonised measurement of transport and logistics emissions – the so-called “CountEmissions EU”. Among other initiatives of interest, the revision of the CO2 emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles is expected to be presented on 14 February. A road safety Package should also be adopted on 1st March, possibly including a revision of the Driving Licence Directive. The Commission’s proposal on the Customs reform is likely to be adopted on 22 March.
CLECAT welcomes the announcement of the much-awaited initiatives related to freight transport and is ready to voice forwarders’ interest to policymakers during the legislative proceedings. We regret however that the publication of the “Greening transport” Package has been pushed back to late June, after being initially scheduled for May. This will give even less time to the European Parliament to negotiate and adopt its position before the end of the legislative term in 2024. In the last weeks/months, CLECAT adopted several position papers related to the upcoming initiatives, especially on the Combined Transport Directive, the Weights and Dimensions Directive, CountEmissions EU and the revision of CO2 standards for HDVs. CLECAT will also prepare its position on the Driving License Directive ahead of the publication of the proposal.