Newsletters

On 9 November, the Council of the European Union formally adopted at first reading the revision of the Eurovignette Directive. The final text results from the informal deal reached among negotiators from the Council and the Parliament in June 2021. CLECAT welcomes the adoption, which will allow for the transition from time-based to distance-based charging, reducing CO2 emissions. CLECAT hopes the European Parliament will now swiftly adopt the revision of the Directive.

On 10 November, CLECAT joined the Global Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for zero-emission medium and heavy-duty vehicles. Launched in the framework of the COP26 in Glasgow, the MoU was signed by 15 countries, as well as private stakeholders, including the European Clean Trucking Alliance (ECTA), of which CLECAT is a member.

CLECAT and FIATA, respectively, the European and global associations for freight forwarding and logistics services providers have renewed their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to reinforce the longstanding cooperation between the two associations. The signing of the MoU by the respective Associations took place on 11 November.

The 2021 edition of CLECAT’s Freight Forwarders Forum, entitled ‘Building Sustainable and Resilient Supply Chains’, will take place online on 25 November, from 14.00-17.30h CET.

On 31 October, the European Commission President von der Leyen and United States President Biden agreed to start discussions on a Global Arrangement on Sustainable Steel and Aluminium, marking a new milestone in the transatlantic relationship. As a part of that partnership, they intend to negotiate for the first time, a global arrangement to address carbon intensity and global overcapacity.

According to the newest EU Aid for Trade Progress Report 2021, released on 29 October, EU aid to improve partner countries' trading capacity increased and helped them tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. Women's economic empowerment, environment and biodiversity protection, as well as digitalisation, have been the key areas of the EU Aid for Trade action.

On 3 November, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for global air cargo markets in September 2021, showing that demand continued to be well above pre-crisis levels and that capacity constraints persist.

On 30 October, the Delegated Regulation providing for a temporary modification of the use-it or lose-it rule at EU airports within the EU Slot Regulation for the Winter Season 2021/2022, running from 31 October 2021 until 26 March 2022, entered into force.

On 19 October, the International Union of Railways (UIC) and the International Union for road-rail combined transport (UIRR) presented the results of the Comparative Analysis of the Combined Transport Usages and Standards (CACTUS), a work commissioned by the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) to facilitate Combined Transport activities and to boost its integration with other modes of transport.

The latest quarterly European Road Freight Rate Benchmark published by Transport Intelligence shows that prices have hit historic highs across Europe, driven by a mix of robust economic growth, global supply chain bottlenecks, rising costs and scarce capacity.