The European Parliament adopted by 623 votes to 35 with 21 abstentions a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on common rules guaranteeing basic connectivity for road freight transport in the light of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union.
The position of the European Parliament adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure has amended the Commission proposal as follows:
Objective
In order to avoid serious disruptions in the absence of an agreement to withdraw the United Kingdom from the Union, the proposed Regulation provides for temporary measures to prevent operators from completely stopping transport operations between the United Kingdom and the EU, by allowing freight transport operators and British bus and coach operators to temporarily provide services between the EU and the United Kingdom, provided that the United Kingdom offers equivalent access to EU operators.
Authorised transport of goods
The definition would cover:
- a laden journey of a vehicle from the territory of the Union to the territory of the United Kingdom or vice versa, with or without transit through one or more Member States or third countries;
- following laden journeys from the territory of the United Kingdom covered by the above point, the performance, within 7 days after unloading on the territory of the Union, of a maximum of two additional loading and unloading operations on the territory of the Union for a period of 4 months from the first day of application of the regulation, and one operation within 7 days following unloading on the territory of the Union, during the following 3 months;
- the movement of a laden vehicle from the territory of the United Kingdom to the territory of the United Kingdom, with transit through the territory of the Union.
Authorised carriage of passengers by coach and bus
The definition would cover:
- the movement of a coach or bus to carry passengers from the territory of the Union to the territory of the United Kingdom or vice versa, with or without transit through one or more Member States or third countries;
- the movement of a coach or bus to carry passengers from the territory of the United Kingdom to the territory of the United Kingdom, with transit through the territory of the Union;
- the pick-up and drop-off of passengers in the border region of Ireland on special regular and regular international services between Ireland and Northern Ireland until 30 September 2019.
Equivalence of rights and fair competition
The Commission could, by means of delegated acts:
- suspend the application of the regulation when equivalent rights are not granted to EU road hauliers or coach operators or when the rights granted are minimal; or
- limit the capacity or number of authorised journeys of United Kingdom road hauliers or coach operators, or both; or
- adopt operating restrictions related to vehicle types or traffic conditions.
Entry into force and application
The regulation should enter into force as a matter of urgency and apply from the day following the day on which the treaties cease to apply in the United Kingdom, unless a withdrawal agreement with the United Kingdom has entered into force on that date. In any event, it would cease to apply on 31 December 2019.