Press Release March 26, 2020 ETF condemns the decision of European Commission to extend CBER European Commission declared a four-year prolongation of the Consortia Block Exemption Regulation (CBER), now valid until 2024. The decision disregards a public consultation and reinforces the inequality and unfairness that is rampant in the maritime industry.
Statement March 25, 2020 Fuel de-taxation is fundamental for keeping jobs in fisheries In light of the WTO negotiations on fishery subsidies, ETF joined Europêche, Cogeca, EAPO and AIPCE-CEP in presenting their case against the fuel de-taxation schemes in fisheries.
Statement March 24, 2020 Road : EC Communication on COVID-19 and green lanes sends wrong signals and doesn’t address the real problem The EC Communication and its recommended measures – meant to keep intra-EU borders open during this time of crisis – seem to be somehow disconnected from reality, both with regard to the development of the pandemic and to the expected transport trends.
News March 24, 2020 COVID-19: ETF responds to the EC Green Lanes communication European Commission’s communication on the implementation of the Green Lanes does not provide the concrete measures that are needed to protect the transport workers who are on the frontline and who will bear the consequences of inaction.
Statement March 24, 2020 COVID-19: European Aviation at Crossroads ETF CAS statement on continuous developments in civil aviation. The situation is dire, and there is a clear need for a long-term vision.
Statement March 24, 2020 COVID-19: Transport keeps us going A joint statement by European associations representing transport, infrastructure managers, operators, workers in all transport modes and logistics, contractors, local and regional authorities, logistics service providers, shippers, users and equipment suppliers in the maritime, port, inland waterways, railways, road, cycling, aviation and intermodal sectors, as well as supporting industries and companies.
News March 23, 2020 COVID-19: Member States adopt temporary relaxation of driving and rest time rules ETF would like to stress that this must be a temporary measure, strictly limited to the transport of goods of strict necessity!
Statement March 20, 2020 Solidarity with our French affiliates and all railway workers! We were shocked and saddened to learn of the terrible train accident of March 18, 2020, near the Strasbourg train station in which a railway track maintainer lost his life and a second track maintainer was seriously injured. Solidarité à nos affiliés français et à tous les cheminots dans ce moment difficile.
Statement March 19, 2020 COVID-19: ETF responds to the outcome of Council of Transport Ministers Meeting In the wake of the informal meeting of the Council of Transport Ministers, the ETF has once again sent a letter to Commissioner Vălean. The ETF waited for the outcome of this meeting, in hopes that concrete measures to protect our transport workers would emerge from it. What emerged was the exact opposite, and we are extremely disappointed in the Council’s (un)willingness to tackle this safety emergency that poses a threat, which grows by the minute, for transport workers.
Statement March 19, 2020 COVID-19: Drivers in the road transport industry need concrete action from the EU In view of the ongoing crisis and its effect on drivers in the road transport industry, and the lack of response to their dire situation in the communication of yesterday’s Council of Transport Ministers meeting, the ETF has addressed a statement to the Commissioner for Transport, Adina-Ioana Vălean in which the ETF urges the European Commission and the Member States to adopt an emergency action plan for truck drivers, before our drivers fall subject to a humanitarian and health crisis in Europe.
News March 19, 2020 COVID-19: A call for social dialogue in Inland Waterways This morning, European Barge Union released a statement, calling for the free movement of vessels and crew members, as well as flexibility in the application of the working time directive crewing regulations. On top of that, they propose the elimination of penalties in cases where these regulations are not respected. In response, we sent out a letter to EBU and ESO, emphasising the need for social dialogue in Inland Waterways in these difficult times.
News March 19, 2020 Radical changes required to future-proof training and education of maritime professionals As part of the SkillSea project, a new report was released – Current Skills Needs: Reality and Mapping. Researchers surveyed more than 1,600 maritime professionals – 1,149 seafarers and 474 shore-based personnel – to get their views on the adequacy of current maritime training and education and what they consider to be the most important skills needs.