Newsletters

On 9 September, the European Parliament formally approved the urgent procedure for the targeted amendment to the Eurovignette Directive, extending the option for Member States to exempt zero-emission trucks from road charges until June 2031.

CLECAT has warned against the introduction of binding zero-emission vehicle targets for corporate fleets of trucks and vans: They could prove counterproductive, risking higher emissions as operators delay fleet renewal due to inflated costs and supply shortages.

On 3 September, the European Commission adopted a second package of sectoral proposals, completing the framework for the next long term EU budget for 2028–2034. With these proposals the Commission completes the Multiannual Financial Framework, MFF.

On 29 August, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) published its latest market data, reporting continued growth in global air cargo demand for July 2025.

New figures from Cargo IQ point to a decline in the on-time performance of major airlines, with average reliability dropping to 77% in July. This represents a decrease from 80% in June and 81% in May, signalling a downward trend that is causing concern within the air cargo sector.

Nieuwsblad Transport reported this week that Lineas, the Belgian rail freight operator and former NMBS cargo arm, continues to face serious financial challenges despite repeated state-backed rescue operations.

Carriers’ latest attempts to push through General Rate Increases (GRIs) and Peak Season Surcharges (PSS) on the Asia–Europe trade lane appear to be losing momentum, with little sign of lasting impact. Market analysts suggest that only significant reductions in capacity are likely to prevent further rate erosion in September.

From 1 September 2025, new EU customs rules took effect for goods entering the EU by road and rail. Carriers moving goods through certain Member States will now have to submit Entry Summary Declarations (ENS) through the Import Control System 2 (ICS2) before the goods arrive. This applies regardless of where the company is registered.

This week, the European Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) Committee held an exchange of views on MEP Johan Danielsson’s draft resolution, which calls for new EU-wide measures to regulate subcontracting chains and labour intermediaries including a cap of two levels below the main contractor and joint liability across the chain. Against this backdrop, CLECAT has submitted detailed comments to MEPs, warning that rigid regulations could disrupt legitimate logistics operations and harm SMEs.