EC backtracks on cabotage deregulation

Plans to further liberalise the European road transport market by lifting current restrictions on cabotage – the transportation of goods within one country by operators registered elsewhere – have been put on ice by the European Commission, following concerns raised by industry bodies.

Announcing the decision, EC transport spokesperson Helen Kearns said: “The current cabotage restrictions go against the spirit of a European Single Market which guarantees the rights of all citizens to work, travel and trade freely.  Nonetheless they exist because of fears of possible abuse and lowering social standards.”

She continued: “It is clear that cabotage rules must evolve over the long term, but it needs to be done properly and in consultation with all stakeholders. That process is complex and it takes time – making it difficult to deal with this issue in the lifetime of this Commission.”

The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) made clear its opposition to the EC’s plans, through the organisation of a ‘European action day’ on 14 May.

The ETF said existing cabotage rules, which allow operators to carry out three journeys per week within a seven-day period within the domestic market of another EU member state, had not been properly enforced by national governments.

An ETF statement read: “Europe is divided by huge disparities in terms of wages and working conditions. In the given conditions, with Eastern European drivers being paid up to ten times less than their colleagues from [pre-2004 EU member states], the ETF and its 750,000 road transport workers from 30 European countries say yet again a clear “no”; our sector is not prepared to accept further liberalisation.”