Voting on the compromise version of the Mobility Package will take place in December. However, the date is uncertain, because despite many meetings, the MEPs have still not been able to reach an agreement that could get the support of the majority of the European Parliament. Polish representatives unanimously indicate that the main obstacle is the lack of cooperation on the part of the S&D rapporteur (Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament) – Ismail Ertuga, who is responsible for the regulations on cabotage.
At the end of last week, the third joint meeting of shadow rapporteurs from two European Parliament committees: Transport and Employment and Social Affairs, ended in fiasco. As commentators point out, the previous divisions have not been eliminated.
Chances and risks
As we learned in the office of MEP Danuta Jazłowiecka, representatives of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe are still in favor of liberal solutions, politicians from Western countries – for restrictive ones, among which:
– exclusion of bilateral services and covering all other cross-trade services with posting regulations,
– less flexibility related to organizing rest periods, assuming a ban on sleeping in the cabin during regular and short rest periods,
– cooling-off, i.e. the ban on re-cabotage after a certain time.
Western MEPs seek compromise
On the other hand, Polish representatives emphasize that both the MEPs Merja Kyllönen (Finland) and Wim Van de Camp (the Netherlands) are seeking a compromise. These two presented some assumptions about the posting and rest period that may appeal to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Representatives of Polish offices stipulate that at this stage of negotiations it is too early to disclose the details.
However, we learned in the MEP’s Kosma Złotowski office that, for example, the deputy Kyllonen is still insisting on the proposal to exclude bilateral transport and transit from posting, and all transport operations from long-term posting. According to this proposal, local and regional collective agreements would not be applied to the transport sector. In comparison to the text adopted in the Transport Committee, a new concept was presented of exclusion not based on days, but on cross-trade operations. It provides for the exclusion of 8 such operations from posting.
In turn, Danuta Jazłowiecka on Facebook indicates that „there is a chance to agree on a regulation regarding driving and rest period”.
I hope that we will manage to win 2 things for drivers – more time at home with family (eg thanks to the possibility of picking up 2 short rests and one regular with compensation at home) and safe and well-equipped parking lots!” she writes.
The fight is not yet over
Already last week, information appeared that today or tomorrow the rapporteurs of all three reports included in the Mobility Package – deputies Kyllonen, Van de Camp and Ertug were to meet, and in a narrow circle, come to an agreement on the shape of the rules.
This is crucial because, as indicated by Kosma Złotowski’s office, the assumption of further talks after the July vote was that all three reports should be modified. For now, the document on cabotage remains unchanged.
Polish MEPs have mixed feelings. On the one hand, they confirm that in their opinion the socialists are playing on time and may strive to make the lex specialis (ie the Mobility Package) not be created at all. On the other hand they ensure that they are not going to let go.
We do not give up!” says Danuta Jazłowiecka on Facebook. „All the more so because another country – Denmark – has announced full enforcement of the directive on the posting of workers to all drivers, following the example of Germany, France, Austria and Italy.”
Photo: Pixabay/you_littleswine/public domain