After the EU’s Council of Transport Ministers agreed on the proposed revisions of the Weights and Dimensions Directive earlier this month, proposed reforms set out by the European association of abnormal road transport and mobile cranes (ESTA) are moving forward without any alterations.
Given there are no further changes by the EU’s Council of Transport Ministers, a series of measures long called for by ESTA are moving to the next stage – the so-called trilogue negotiations between the European Parliament, the Commission and the Council. With each institution suggesting sharing any amendments, the idea is that the trilogue negotiations should facilitate agreement on new EU laws faster by addressing differences prior to completion of legislative readings.
An initial meeting took place on December 9 which included representatives from all three bodies. Cyprus, which will take over the presidency of the Council of the EU from Denmark in January, intends to keep the reforms at the forefront of its objectives.
Along with the adoption of Europe-wide standard special European registration for trucks and trailers (SERT) documentation, ESTA’s lobbied measures include: a ‘one stop shop’ per country for permits; standardised permit application forms; use of electronic permits; harmonisation of escorting rules and vehicle markings; a ban on language requirements for drivers; and permitting systems to be available in all EU languages.
“We are now waiting to see what amendments might be proposed for the trilogue negotiations,” said ESTA director Ton Klijn. “But If all goes ahead as currently envisaged – and when coupled with the measures set out in the separate military mobility package – we could see the most significant and positive changes to the regulations governing our industry in a generation.”
The measures also include incentives for the road transport sector to invest in zero-emission technologies, chiefly allowing compensation for the added weight because of such technologies.
Yesterday, HLPFI reported that ESTA is plotting its next steps following its safety survey findings.
