Nándor Csepreghy, Hungarian Deputy Minister of Transport, has stated that the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU will be unable to finalize the directive on the weights and dimensions of heavy goods vehicles. According to Csepreghy, Member States are not prepared to reach an agreement by the end of 2024. Notably, on 7 October, at the start of the European Parliament’s new term, the TRAN Committee voted to begin inter-institutional negotiations.
The revision timetable indicates that the European Commission’s eight-week consultation period, which began on 13 July, has been extended to the end of this year. The Commission will compile a summary of all the opinions received and present them to the European Parliament and Council as input for the legislative debate. However, this will not take place until next year, when the Polish Presidency of the EU Council assumes responsibility.
Progress on revising these regulations, anticipated by both the transport industry and truck manufacturers, has been slow. In July 2023, the Commission tabled a package of three proposals to promote greener freight transport, including one to revise the Weights and Dimensions Directive. This proposal aims to encourage the use of zero-emission trucks by allowing them to exceed standard weight limits and to clarify rules for the cross-border use of heavier and longer vehicles between countries where such vehicles are permitted. Additional goals include promoting intermodal transport, simplifying administrative procedures, and enhancing enforcement.
Despite efforts by the Belgian Presidency (January to June 2024), no consensus was reached on this issue, nor on revisions to the directive on combined transport or on truck weights and dimensions.
“Although a progress report was presented in June this year, based on which the Hungarian Presidency resumed discussions, the revision of the legislation remains stalled,” commented the Community of European Railways and Railway Infrastructure Managers (CER).