EEC row over permits
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COMMONMarket experts are striving to patch up a new row which threatens to undermine the recent EEC deal — described as a breakthrough — on international permits and lorry weights.
Under the agreement by EEC axle, but the Italians want someTransport Ministers in May the thing higher.
quota is due to rise by 30 per cent next year, followed by annual increases of 15 per cent until 1989.
At the same time the Ministers agreed, in broad terms, the contents of a partial directive on lorry weights and sizes for adoption by the end of the year.
However, the package is now in danger of coming apart. The Italians say they won't accept the directive unless it includes the weight on the driving axle.
Most EEC countries are settling for an 11-ton driving The dispute has alarmed the Germans who have made a deal on weights and sizes a pre condition for accepting higher quotas.
Bonn has now said it will block any increase in the quota, until the directive is adopted.
Brussels officials are now negotiating with both the Germans and the Italians. It remains to be seen whether the champagne drunk in May to celebrate the 'breakthrough' was served too early.