The Minister of transport, Information Technology and Communications, Rossen Jeliazkov met the ministers of transport of Poland, Hungary, Lithuania and Latvia at the EP. The positions of the like-minded Member States on the Mobility Package I were discussed, with the Romanian representative official stated that Romania will definitely join the group of the like-minded group and will actively participate in the negotiations on the Package.
The ministers united around the position that the actions on the Mobility Package were hasty and there was a lack of strong arguments and analyses. This fact calls for the initiation of a new dialogue in which all like-minded Member States MEPs must be actively involved, regardless which political group they belong to.
During the meeting with the Deputy Chairman of the Group of European Conservatives and Reformists of the EP, Raffaele Fitto, Minister Rossen Jeliazkov stated unambiguously that the texts adopted so far on the Mobility Package I diverged significantly from the initial goals of the Package. The approach in the text of the Package is changed substantially and the elements that are added will have an impact on the functioning of road transport sector and competitiveness by favoring certain Member States at the expense of others. The Minister emphasized “We hope that the newly elected EP will be open to our proposals“.
Rossen Jeliazkov spoke with the Coordinator on the Mobility Package I who is a member of the Renew Europe Group in the EP José Ramón Bauzá Díaz. They discussed the controversial texts of the Mobility Package I. The Minister pointed out the concerns of the like-minded Member States about the issue that the texts will lead to additional hours of driving and accumulation of fatigue for drivers, which is a real prerequisite for serious accidents. He recalled that the mandatory return of vehicles to the Member States of establishment will unnecessarily increase traffic, harmful emissions and depreciation of road infrastructure. The Bulgarian Minister of transport was unambiguously explicit: “According to a study, published by the European Commission, there is a lack of 400 000 safe and secure parking places and rest areas on the territory of the European Union. The ban on the weekly rest in the cabin should be abolished until such places are constructed”.
“The problems in the road transport sector could not be solved by imposing bans and restrictions. A new overall approach is needed which would guarantee equal approach to all member states, as well as a long enough transition period for the business and the road hauliers to adapt”, pointed out Rossen Jeliazkov.
The topic was also discussed with Mr. Marco Zanni, Chair of the Identity and Democracy Group, EP. The Minister pointed out that some of the concerns of the like-minded countries are supported also by other peripheral countries. According to him at the beginning, the Mobility package I was presented as social policy, in support of the drivers, but the present texts, reviewed in the EP, lead to direct competitive impediment of a large EU economic sector. “I don’t see anything social in the suggestion for return of the vehicle every four weeks”, added Rossen Jeliazkov.
