The Maltese government will support truck companies and fight new European Union rules that will affect Malta’s competitiveness, Maltese Transport Minister Ian Borg said on Monday.
He made his comments after meeting with representatives of Maltese international trucking companies Attrans, Falcotrans, Express Trailers and Fahrenheit.
The European Parliament recently voted in favor of amendments to EU rules forcing trucking companies to provide a paid rest period of about 45 hours every three to four consecutive weeks, at “the employer’s facility or at the drivers’ residence.”
Trucks will also have to return to company headquarters every eight weeks, in a move aimed at preventing transport companies from trying to register in other EU countries to take advantage of lower taxes.
A representative for Attrans told the Times of Malta on 4 February that the rules would cost his company between €500,000 and €1 million due to the need to buy more trucks and employ more people.
The new rules form part of the EU’s mobility package, which eight EU member states are now trying to scrap.
Dr. Borg said he held his meeting with truck companies before a meeting in Brussels to discuss developments.
Dr Borg agreed with trucking companies that the new rule forcing operators to return trucks to Malta every few weeks could create new challenges relating to costs, time and the environment.
He said the new rule threatens the competitiveness of countries like Malta, an island on the edge of Europe.
Moreover, the new rule will include the use of more cars at the expense of the environment.
He said that Malta was expressing its objections along with Cyprus, Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania. He said they had written to Commission Vice President Timmermans and Transport Commissioner Adina Valian.
“This is an important industry and we will do everything we can to roll back the rules,” Dr Borg said.
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