The ongoing review of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) regulation is of crucial importance for the EU road transport sector. There is an urgent need for agreement among legislators, followed by commitment from Member States.
Ahead of tomorrow’s negotiations between EU lawmakers, the IRU, the ETF, which represents employers and employees in road transport, and ESPORG, the European Safe Parking Organisation, are calling on the European Parliament and Council to ensure suitable working conditions for professional drivers by setting reasonable deadlines for safe and secure parking. Safe Truck Parking Areas (SSTPA).
During the negotiations, the position of the Parliament, which favored the rapid rollout of PPP agreements, clashed with the general approach taken by the Council, which significantly reduced ambition even below the European Commission’s proposal.
With member states reluctant to move forward and adopt the changes required and supported by Parliament, operators, drivers and safe parking associations fear that the outcome of the negotiations will not lead to improved working conditions for drivers.
Raluca Marian, EU Advocacy Director at the IRU, said: “We welcome Parliament’s position and strongly hope it prevails. It significantly improves on the Commission’s proposal, anticipating the deadline for the core network to 2030 and the comprehensive network to 2040 by ten years. It is also more aware of drivers’ Trucks from the council park, which makes no firm commitment to building safe parking areas, instead makes a vague promise.”
“Drivers desperately need more safe and secure parking spaces, which is the basic tenant of their working conditions. It’s the bare minimum,” she added.
Furthermore, the revision of the TEN-T Regulation is clearly linked to the recently adopted Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR). However, it will not be possible to implement such infrastructure without sufficient safe and secure truck parking spaces.
The commercial land transport sector lacks 500,000 professional drivers. Improving working conditions, including creating an adequate network of safe parking spaces, is vital to retaining and attracting professional truck drivers.
