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It's a feast for the East
Page 7
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• The number of Eastern European-registered goods vehicles travelling from Great Britain to mainland Europe in the first quarter of 2001 has rocketed by 45% compared with last year's figures.
The news coincides with the European Union's announcement that road hauliers from Eastern Europe will have to wait several years after their countries join the EU before they will be allowed to compete in transport markets in the existing member states.
Brussels says that operational costs of operators from these countries "are still significantly below the EU average". It accepts that this disparity would disrupt EU markets.
The British Department of Transport reveals that in the same period the number of UK-registered vehicles travelling to the Continent has fallen by 8%. In all there was a 12% rise in the number of foreign-registered trucks travelling across to the Continent.
Simon Chapman, chief economist at the Freight Transport Association, says: "The cost base of UK operators is out of sight in comparison to their foreign counterparts." He adds that the main reason for this is the appreciation of sterling against the euro.
• See Comment, page I.