Quota 'package' is together again
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EEC Transport Ministers managed last week to shore up their shaky agreement on lorry weights and dimensions, quota arrangements for the next five years, and infrastructure aid, but there is still pessimism around.
The historic deal, hammered out in Brussels last May fell apart 48 hours later when Italy demanded that driving axle weights should be included. After a special meeting in Brussels last week, Britain's Transport Minister Lynda Chalker claimed the deadlock had been broken by a political compromise and the "package" will be adopted when ministers meet again in December.
At this meeting, the ministers intend formally to adopt — after many years of arguments — 40 tonnes as the weight limit of the Euro lorry and 4-4 tonnes for ISO 40ft containers in combined transport.
But there will be an exception for Britain and Ireland which are sticking at 38 tonnes and probably will not fall into line "for a very long period" according to Mrs Chalker.
The two countries will not even be expected to give a tar get date for going over to 40 tonnes before the end of 1986. In the meantime, Britain will assess the strength of its bridges which will probably cost about E1bn to strengthen.
A solution to the thorny question of driving axle weights on five and six-axle vehicles has been put off until the end of next year.
Italy wants a maximum weight of between 11.5 and 12.5 tonnes and the EEC Commission has suggested a European compromise of 11 tonnes.
Brussels experts say the deal could still collapse a second time and Mrs Chalker was not over confident.
If there are no hiccups, the ministers will also be able in December to adopt the other elements in the package, particularly the agreement to more than double the community quota over the next five years. Under this arrangement, the quota — frozen for the last two years — will be increased by 30 per cent next year. Britain would get 551 permits compared to 456 this year.
After that there would be increases of 15 per cent each year until 1989, thus avoiding the annual end-of-year haggling in Brussels.
The ministers are also due to agree in December expenditure of £57m on improving transport infrastructure.
Efforts are now being made to speed up the paperwork so that the money can be paid out quickly once the decision is taken.
Commenting on last week's meeting a Commission spokesman, said that discussions had reached "a degree of deadlock".
Each country was demanding guarantees protecting their own individual interests, which could not be given.