Strike plan in Belgium
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THROUGH their trade association, Belgian road hauliers have told the Belgian Government that unless action is taken promptly to remove the eight-hour driving day limit they will take their trucks off the road next month. Their action—aimed at other EEC driving regulations also, such as the 450km daily limit for heavy artics—is likely to be backed by the own-account sector of the industry.
Sympathy
The Belgian Minister for Transport, M J. Chabert, has reportedly expressed sympathy with the hauliers' viewpoint and has undertaken to press for the EEC social regulations to be discussed urgently at next week's meeting of the Council of Ministers. He is talking in terms of a complete renegotiation of the regulations governing driving and rest periods and distance limits The Belgian operators ar demanding a return to a if hour daily driving limit– which, as revealed exclusivel in CM last week—has bee re-introduced in France, Th Belgians have told thei government that they have n intention of staging publi demonstrations in support c their demand : they will simpI keep their vehicles off th road.
Whatever the success of Chabert, British demands for deferment of the EEC eigh hour driving day are unlike] to be discussed at next week ministerial meeting in Luxen bourg. It had been expecte that the issue—bound to cr.( ate an acrimonious debatewould have been raised, hut now appears that it will t shelved until a second meetir planned for December, writ our Brussels correspondent. This time, discussing what has been described as a "lowkey" agenda, Ministers will examine the Brussels Commission's updated plans for a common transport policy within the EEC and the consequences for the transport industry of summer time.
At the beginning of September the British Government sent a memorandum to the European Commission asking for a two-year deferment on Reg 543/69 laying down drivers' hours and the 450km limit which is due to be introduced into Britain by Jan 1.
A spokesman in Brussels hoped the Commission would make its attitude clear in time for the debate next week. But actual decision making will be left until December. Britain will take the opportunity of discussions on Social Regulations next Wednesday to raise the problem of drivers' hours as a whole. Other member States will also give their views.
Also in September the Commission was informed of the difficulty the British transport industry will have in carrying out Article 1463 which says that tachographs should be fitted to all vehicles after January 1. The memo pointed out that delays caused by British renegotiation and the referendum combined with the transport industry's general reluctance to accept tachographs would make it virtually impossible for it to comply at once. Officials are still waiting for Commission views.
The general view in Brussels is that next Wedensday's council will be a short one. The purpose, according to informed sources, is apparently to have a general debate and prepare for the main decision-making council at the end of the year.