EU mobility package adopted, Poland against

In Brussels, EU ambassadors adopted a mobility package – a set of provisions on road transport. Poland and seven other EU member states opposed their adoption on April 7 but this was not enough to block its entry.

The regulations still have to be finally approved by the European Parliament.

Besides Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Latvia, Hungary, Lithuania, Cyprus and Malta opposed the package, according to information received by Polish news agency, PAP. The group of mostly Eastern European countries argued the situation is critical in the transport sector due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, they did not have the majority needed to block further proceedings and the rules themselves.

The new rules would force trucks to return to home countries every eight weeks, give drivers the right to return home every four weeks, and require drivers to spend rest periods outside their vehicle – with employers shouldering the cost of accommodation.

Wealthier nations including France and the Netherlands support the reforms, alongside workers’ unions who say it would make jobs in Europe’s trucking sector more attractive.

The group not supporting the reforms say the changes would put their firms at a disadvantage by forcing them to send empty trucks home – causing excessive costs and extra carbon emissions.

(PAP, Reuters)