Romanian hauliers continue protests against plans for “protectionist” EU Directive

Romanian hauliers’ association UNTRR organised a protest in front of the EC Delegation in Bucharest, on the occasion of the meeting of the EU Commissioners, Bursa informed. The European Parliament's Committee on Transport and Tourism on January 10 discussed the Mobility 1 package and rejected two (of three) reports regulating the ban on resting in the cabin trucks and the posting of drivers in cross-trade operations. But it approved the report on the return of the vehicle in the home country and cabotage (local transport contracts). The package should be left to the next European Parliament, Bulgarian prime minister Boyko Borissov (a country also interested in the market) argued in a talk with EP President Antonio Tajani. UNTRR has been protesting against the whole Mobility 1 Directive that, they argue, is protectionist and in favour of the transport companies in Western Europe. “We are going to be out of the Western Europe market. There are 60,000 Romanian trucks there,” UNTRR secretary general Radu Dinescu said. He invoked the central bank statistics that show that Romania’s gross export of transport services was nearly EUR 6.5 billion (3.2% of GDP). Radu Dinescu argued that the Mobility 1 (first part of “mobility package” initiative), which makes it practically impossible for East European companies to operate in Western Europe, is aimed at forcing the best Romanian transport companies settle in Western Europe, pay taxes there and bring employees’ families there as well. It is selective import of active workforce, Dinescu concluded. Romanian hauliers to protest in Brussels against protectionism editor@romania-insider.com (photo source: Pixabay.com)