The European Parliament has a deal on the Mobility Package! It happened today, at the Brussels mini-plenary, and the ETF welcomes it!

“We are pleased with the compromise, although on some parts of the Mobility Package we would have preferred a stronger outcome. We will keep a very close eye on the implementation of future rules, and on their enforcement. Without a doubt, this is a success for the ETF’s Fair Transport campaign, where unions across Europe are standing together against exploitation, unfair competition and social dumping. The outcome of today’s vote meets the ETF red lines and it is a step ahead to making rules for our sector clearer and better. As the EU elections approach, the European Parliament showed in the end that they care about drivers and people in Europe.” said Frank Moreels, ETF President.

“This deal is the result of months of assiduous lobbying and campaigning by the ETF. To bring it about, it took courage, trust and close cooperation with friendly forces from inside the Parliament. In the past two years, the ETF organised 7 demonstrations in Brussels and Strasbourg, 8 action weeks, and lots of social media campaigns. Our voice has been heard!” said Roberto Parrillo, President of the ETF Road Transport Section.

On driving and rest time, drivers and unions scored a real victory! MEPs voted that rules should stay as they are. They also confirmed that drivers must return home every 4 weeks at the latest, and that weekly rest must be spent away from the vehicle. This is another step towards better work-life balance for our workers, better rest conditions and safer roads and passengers in Europe. MEPs also voted in favour of light goods vehicles to be equipped with the digital tachograph, a device that measures compliance with driving time limits. No more van or minibus drivers on the road for more than 10 hours a day!

On cabotage – that is when a vehicle from another country carries out pick-ups and deliveries inside another member state – MEPs voted for stricter rules that will foster fair competition on domestic markets. Cabotage will only be allowed 3 days at a time, and the vehicle involved will then have to spend 60 hours in the member state where their company is registered.

On the application of new posted worker rules to the road sector, MEPs voted that rules giving the same remuneration as local workers should apply from a driver’s very first day of work in another country. That, with the exception of those trips that start and end in the driver’s country of origin.

MEPs have also agreed on a rapid introduction of the smart tachograph on all passenger and freight vehicles, ten years ahead of the deadline decided back in 2014! Posting of workers rules and cabotage will thus be easier to control as this newest type of tachograph will register the position of the vehicle and driver every 3 hours of cumulated driving time.

The MEPs deal stands good chance to put an end to letter-box companies, as operators must organise the vehicle activity in such a way so that these perform at least one loading or one unloading of goods every four weeks in the member state of establishment.

The ETF would like to thank all those MEPs who have engaged in fighting social dumping and unfair competition in road transport. They have helped restoring to restore trust in the social Europe.