End of 2020, seven Member States – Bulgaria, Cyprus, Hungary, Lithuania, Malta, Poland and Romania – challenged the Mobility Package in court. 15 court cases were opened against the Council and the European Parliament who in July last year adopted the Package with a large majority. Such action just goes to show how important this Package is, in restoring social and economic fair play in the road transport sector which for decades had been ripped apart by social fraud, human slavery and unfair competition between operators.

ETF welcomes the legal guide on driving and rest time rules and applauds the European Commission’s stance in favour of the improvement of working conditions in the sector, fair competition between operators and road safety for all road users.

Today, provisions relating to the driving and rest time rules of the Mobility Package start to apply. On this important occasion, the ETF has prepared a first trade union practical guide, an overview of the changes brought on by the new provisions.

One of the gemstones of the European Parliament agreement on the Mobility Package is this: all heavy goods vehicles shall perform at least one loading or one unloading of goods every four weeks in the Member States of establishment. This is so effective in combating letter-box companies, it has recently become subject to attacks as the Mobility Package enters now the critical stage of Institutional negotiations. So, what’s the real problem?

On 24 September, the TRAN Committee of the European Parliament gave green light to their newly appointed rapporteurs to start negotiations with the Council of Transport Ministers, on the Mobility Package.