91997E3929

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3929/97 by Florus Wijsenbeek (ELDR) to the Commission (12 December 1997)

Subject: Freight freeways for the transport of goods by road

Is the Commission aware that there are at present 16 European countries with 50 different sets of rules concerning bans on driving and that these bans mean that shipping and transport firms incur considerable costs?

Is the Commission of the opinion that a lot of the existing bans often have a discriminatory effect, and that they may constitute an obstacle to the freedom of movement of goods in the European Union?

If so, will the Commission make efforts to ensure the creation of harmonized rules concerning driving bans at EU and European level, with agreements to prevent the undesirable proliferation of regional and national schemes?

Does the Commission also agree that the driving bans, and the recent blockades, may have a very detrimental effect on European industry and that this is why it is necessary to establish a network of European freeways for road transport (E-ways) by analogy with the European freeways for the transport of goods by rail?

If so, does the Commission intend to submit, in the near future, proposals for European freeways for the transport of goods by road?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (28 January 1998)

The Commission is aware of the problems resulting from uncoordinated driving bans affecting road haulage on trucks throughout the Union as highlighted in the Honourable Member's question and has reported its concerns to the Council.

The Commission, consequently intends to bring forward a legislative proposal in the spring of this year with the purpose of setting clear and common rules that should be respected when Member States apply driving bans.