(1)

The Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine on the carriage of freight by road (1) (the ‘Agreement’) was signed by the Union on, and has been provisionally applied since, 29 June 2022, in accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2022/1158 (2). It entered into force on 5 December 2022.

(2)

Article 7(1) of the Agreement establishes a Joint Committee to supervise and monitor the application and implementation of the Agreement and periodically review the functioning of the Agreement in light of its objectives. Pursuant to Article 7(2) of the Agreement, the Joint Committee is to be convened at the latest three months before the expiry of the Agreement in order to assess and decide the need for the continuation of the Agreement.

(3)

Decision No 2/2023 of the Joint Committee (3) prolonged the duration of the Agreement until 30 June 2024.

(4)

On 20 June 2024 the Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine amending the Agreement (4) (the ‘Amending Agreement’) was signed by the Union, and has been provisionally applied since, in accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2024/1876 (5). The Amending Agreement prolonged the duration of the Agreement until 30 June 2025, with a tacit renewal for one period of six months. The Agreement has been tacitly renewed until 31 December 2025.

(5)

In order for both the Union and Ukraine to continue benefitting from the positive effects of the Agreement, by facilitating road freight transport between and through Union and Ukraine and supporting the effective functioning of the Solidarity Lanes in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the Agreement should be continued until 31 March 2027.

(6)

The Joint Committee, during its next meeting, is to adopt a decision on the need for a further continuation of the Agreement. That decision will be binding on the Union.

(7)

It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf in the Joint Committee as regards the continuation of the Agreement.

(8)

Due to the concerns and uncertainties raised by some Member States on the negative impact of the Agreement, the Commission will launch a study on the impact of the Agreement on the road transport industry which will also look into road safety concerns, at Union and national level.

(9)

Any further continuation of the Agreement should be subject to satisfactory progress made on the alignment of Ukrainian legislation with the Union acquis in the area of road freight transport that has not yet been transposed and should take into account the results of the study on the impact of the Agreement on the road transport industry.

(10)

The position of the Union within the Joint Committee should therefore be based on the attached draft decision,