Cabotage plan for 4,000
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• A minimum of 4,000 permits will be distributed under the EC's proposed pilot cabotage scheme which is now being discussed in Brussels.
Any change is likely to be upward, says EC officials, who support the plan, which was put forward by Spain (current president of the EC Council).
The pilot scheme is due to start next year, to offer experience before cabotage is introduced after 1992. It is proposed that each permit will be valid for three months.
The share out is likely to be on the basis of the current EC multi-lateral permit quota — but countries with smaller shares are clamouring for more.
EC transport ministers are not expected to reach agreement when they meet in Brussels this month, but they should agree on rules for access to the haulage profession, including the thorny question of financial guarantees.
EC officials says that the controversial proposal, stipulating a guarantee equal to 10% of the new value of each vehicle, has been watered down. A compromise is emerging around a set sum per vehicle — a solution which Britain will probably accept, despite its view that an accountant's report should be sufficient.