Quota: sill no move
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INTERNATIONAL transport firms must face the possibility of no increase this year in EEC permits after the failure last week (March 26) of a compromise proposal to raise the quota by ten per cent.
The proposal was tabled by the European Commission at a meeting of EEC transport ministers after its original plan to increase the quota by 25 per cent was rejected before Christmas by West Germany and Italy.
But last week Germany and Italy were still in no mood to compromise, insisting that the EEC must make a decision on its railway policy before issuing more community licences.
For the time being, Common Market countries are still operating on the basis of the 1980 quota.
Transport Secretary Norman Fowler was pessimistic after the meeting though the quotas will be discussed by Ministers again in June.
He said: "It is becoming increasingly difficult to see how we can make progress, and this is deeply disappointing to anybody who wants to see free movement of goods in Europe."
Ireland also was bitter about the lack of increase because it said the restricted quota impeded development of its international road haulage industry and access to European markets. Germany and Italy were isolated. Belgium, which in December also opposed a 25 per cent increase, was ready to accept the compromise.