EC to force cabotage
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• The European Commission may have to force cabotage on member countries, warns EC transport spokesman Etienne Reuter.
He has told CM that EC transport commissioner Karel van Miens may have to go before the European Court of Justice to seek a ruling that transport ministers of the 12 member states have failed in their duties under EC treaties.
On the threatened disruption to traffic through Austria, Reuter says: "It is now quite clear that there is no way the Austrians will climb down—and indeed you now have people in the EC saying: 'Isn't that a good idea!' So there may be chance that this trend will catch on."
The EC has to come to terms with the Austrian restrictions, and to seek dispensations for special loads such as perishable goods pending further discussions with Vienna on types of vehicle which might prove acceptable to the Austrians, he says.
The Commission plans to produce a strategy for EC rail freight with the emphasis on greater private-sector participation. Brussels is not advocating privatisation, but an opening up of rail networks to private operators. "If you are already operating a road haulage firm, it should be possible to buy rolling stock and branch out into rail haulage," says Reuter.
LJ Martyn Pellew, divisional sales and marketing director of NFC subsidiary Exel Logistics, has warned that the failure of EC transport ministers to reach agreement on cabotage will set back integrated distribution in Europe.
"Failure to implement cabotage now is in direct conflict with the spirit of European development and could seriously damage industry by increasing congestion and inhibiting freeflow of goods," he says. 0 During its presidency of the EC, France plans to press ahead with road safety projects, including the introduction of speed limiters on HGVs, a pan-European driving licence and harmonisation of signalling and signposting.