The position of the Bulgarian state on “Mobility Package I” and the actions taken by the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Rossen Jeliazkov were presented by Deputy Minister Anguel Popov today in Plovdiv to hauliers from all over the country.
In the address, on behalf of Minister Rossen Jeliazkov, it is highlighted that Bulgaria has not stopped expressing its explicit disagreement with the compromise texts of the Austrian Presidency on “Mobility Package I” as they are unbalanced, disproportionate and discriminatory. At recent meetings we have recalled that a competitive and efficient European transport sector requires realistic and applicable rules that ensure the optimal and proper functioning of the European internal market without creating legal uncertainty.
The Bulgarian side will not show any flexibility at all, while the provisions continue to be written in favor of reallocation of market shares by imposing disproportionate measures such as returning the vehicle at home at a certain frequency, says the address. Also, the new texts do not take into account the specifics of the international transport sector, the geographical location of the peripheral Member States and move away from the initially set objectives in the legislative package. Account will also be taken of the differences in Member States' economic performance, as well as the business models of transport operators.
Deputy Minister Anguel Popov reminded to the hauliers that at the last informal Council of Transport Ministers held at the end of October in Austria, Minister Rossen Jeliazkov expressed disagreement with the controversial issues on “Mobility Package I” to his colleagues from Romania, Spain, Portugal, Lithuania, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia. According to him, the Ministers of Bulgaria, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Estonia, Ireland and Malta have sent a joint declaration to the Austrian Presidency with a clear request not to allow divergence from the pre-set goals. They have expressed their disagreement with the provisions requiring the return of the vehicle "at home". This measure will not only hinder the hauliers in terms of logistics and finance, but will also lead to an increase in the number of empty transport operation and will increase the carbon emissions from heavy vehicles.
This would also violate the EU principle of free choice of drivers, where to use their weekly rest. There is also a concern that the European market will be fragmented if the compromise texts on cabotage are adopted.
Our country will continue to protect the policies for a stable and sustainable future of the Bulgarian international road transport, relying on the active support, assistance and efforts of the business.
