Ensuring basic road freight and air connectivity: periods of application

2019/0179(COD)

The European Parliament adopted by 618 votes to 0, with 6 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulations (EU) 2019/501 and (EU) 2019/502 as regards their periods of application.

Parliament adopted its position at first reading, in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure, taking over the Commission proposal.

In order to prepare for the possibility that the United Kingdom could withdraw from the Union without an agreement, the proposal aims to extend the validity period of Regulations (EU) 2019/501 and (EU) 2019/502 by 7 months, in order to ensure basic connectivity for road freight and passenger transport, and basic air transport connectivity, between the Union and the United Kingdom.

Regulation (EU) 2019/501 would thus cease to apply on 31 July 2020 rather than on 31 December 2019. The proposal also defines the period during which cabotage services in the field of road passenger transport may be provided in the border region of Ireland as a six-month period starting from the date of application of that Regulation. This rule should replace the current reference to the end date of application of 30 September 2019.

Regulation (EU) 2019/502 would cease to apply no later than 24 October 2020, to coincide with the last day of the IATA summer season of 2020.

The proposed Regulation should enter into force as a matter of urgency on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union and should apply from the day following that on which the Treaties cease to apply to the United Kingdom. However, it should not apply if a withdrawal agreement concluded with the United Kingdom has entered into force by that date.