IP/08/43
Brussels, 15th January 2008
European Parliament supports proposal to reduce paper work for 300.000 freight carriers, saving € 160 million The European Parliament has today adopted the European Commission's proposal to remove unnecessary burdens for transport companies.. Freight carriers will no longer have to carry separate transport documents, explaining i.e. frontier crossing points, routes to be taken or distance travelled. In addition, this action rationalises outdated reporting requirements dating from 1960, allowing information on intra community transport flows, such as name and address of the consignor, nature and weight of the goods and place at which the goods are to be delivered to be collected through other available means. The proposal also aligns the remaining information requirements with provisions in existing international conventions, while facilitating freight carriers’ opportunities by allowing them to use simpler means of documentation. This simplification applies to more than 300.000 freight carriers across Europe, a majority of which is small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). It is part of the Fast Track Actions within an Action Programme which has the objective to cut administrative burdens on businesses in the EU by 25% in 2012 (IP/07/77). Commission Vice-President Günter Verheugen, responsible for enterprise and industry policy said: “The reduction of administrative burdens is a key element to improve the business environment and meet the European Union's ambitious Lisbon objectives. The Commission therefore welcomes European Parliament's support for a quick adoption of its Fast Track Action removing unnecessary information requirements falling on some 300.000 European freight carriers, who will be saving 160 million Euro annually."
Commission Vice-President Jacques Barrot, responsible for transport added:"it is a good example showing how to reduce administrative burdens without endangering road safety, environment and fair competition in the sector. I hope that the Council will now quickly adopt our proposals on entry to the occupation and market access in a further step forward to simplify the rules and reduce administrative burdens."
According to estimates available from Member States which have already carried out national Administrative Burden measurements, the current outdated requirements produce an annual administrative cost of approximately EUR 160 million. Out of the estimated 300.000 businesses affected, approximately 100 are rail operators, 7.000 inland waterway operators and the rest road freight carriers. A substantial number of these operators are SMEs for whom unnecessary administrative obligations can be particularly burdensome.
The regulation from 1960 requires carriers of goods across EU borders to provide certain information on tariffs, agreements, price deals and transport conditions. These requirements stem from a time when intra-EU transport was heavily regulated. With liberalisation of goods transport, a great part of the required information is no longer needed.
The amendments adopted in the Parliament today ensure that obsolete reporting requirements are removed and duplication is avoided so that the freight transport sector can become more efficient. At the same time, useful information will continue to be available to users. This includes information concerning the involved parties, the goods and transport charges that can be found on other documents such as consignment notes that normally accompany the goods when being transported or in carrier's accounts.
The EU Member States are expected to adopt this proposal shortly.
