European road transport associations have asked the European Commission to help maintain the free movement of goods through Austria. Carriers from several countries want to know whether the activities planned in the Anti-Transit Package presented in October will prove to be inconsistent with EU law.
Transport associations from different European countries have asked the Directorate General for Mobility and Transport (DG Move) and the Directorate of Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG Grow) to verify if the measures provided for in the Anto-Transit Package comply with the EU law. A letter to the EU officials was sent by the unions: AISÖ (Austria), Anita and LVH South Tyrol (Italy), FNTR (France), ITD (Denmark), TLN (the Netherlands) and IRU.
What does the Package contain?
The Anti-Transit Package provides for a number of solutions that, according to the Austrians, improve the air quality and safety of Brenner residents, as well as relieve the road infrastructure. This is another initiative of this type in Tyrol, which for years has been trying to transfer a large part of freight transport to rails. Until now, the region deals with the problem by introducing sectoral traffic bans and block checks The package is to enter into force on 1 August 2019. Then, the sectoral ban on truck traffic will be extended to further groups of goods that can be successfully transported by rail (details are not yet known).
In addition, special permits will be removed which apply to vehicles complying with the EURO 6 emission standard. The package also provides for a general traffic ban for EURO 4 trucks, and EURO 5 trucks will not be able to pass through Tyrol from 2021. The night-time traffic ban will apply to EURO 6 trucks.
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