During the plenary session (25-28 March 2019) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on Mobility package. Statements by Merja KYLLÖNEN (GUE/NGL, FI), Wim van de CAMP (EPP, NL), Ismail ERTUG (S&D, DE), Rapporteurs and Karmenu VELLA, Member of the EC in charge of Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.

Strasbourg

plenary session

joint debate

VELLA, Karmenu (MT, EC)

KYLLÖNEN, Merja (GUE/NGL, FI)

van de CAMP, Wim (EPP, NL)

mobility package (T)

Mobility package: extracts from the joint debate

SOUNDBITE (Finnish), Merja KYLL&#214;NEN (GUE/NGL, FI), Rapporteur , Drivers have a right to go and see their families on a regular basis or to go where they please. We managed to put together a compromise on this nomadic driving work where drivers would have the right to return to their home or to an agreed place agreed with their employer.

SOUNDBITE (Finnish), Merja KYLL&Ouml;NEN (GUE/NGL, FI), Rapporteur , Now this hasn't been enough for some. Some want to follow the Posting of Workers Directive example where everybody would be a posted worker as of day one. Now there are those who could advocate this on the basis of their views of social protection but I think it would undermine the flexibility and we need to address the question of not having trucks driving around Europe a day empty or half empty.

SOUNDBITE (Dutch), Wim van de CAMP (EPP, NL), Rapporteur, In my file on driving and rest-times, it's a question of improving the working conditions of drivers and it's not so much about the daily working and rest times that's dealt with in a different file. So we're not looking at that in particular what it's about is rest times at night and during the weekends. And the most essential question is about where exactly that driver spends their rest time. As we've seen on many European roads trucks are illegally parked. There are no cooking facilities no sanitary facilities. And that's what we're trying to solve with this file.

SOUNDBITE (Dutch), Wim van de CAMP (EPP, NL), Rapporteur, We need to make sure that too strict regulations do not hinder the flexibility of the single market at the current time we have a major shortage of drivers around 5000 vacant posts and it is said that we can solve this shortage with good working conditions and with some flexibility.

SOUNDBITE (German), Ismail ERTUG (S&amp;D, DE), Rapporteur, This particular profession is no longer interesting drivers. It's no longer an issue of money. When one looks at the average wage for drivers in Southeastern Europe for example, which is over the average. Nonetheless a few people go into that particular profession and that is because the conditions are bad.

SOUNDBITE (English), Karmenu VELLA, Member of the EC in charge of Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, The road sector needs a breakthrough now the hauliers and the drivers need a fair and stable framework for the next years. The sector cannot wait longer. An agreement in Parliament quickly will show that this House is committed to address the pressing challenges this sector faces.

SOUNDBITE (English), Karmenu VELLA, Member of the EC in charge of Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, The rules on cabotage, the driving and rest times and last but certainly not least the lex specialis on the application of the posting rules in road transport. In our view the compromise proposals tabled strike a good balance and meet the general objectives of the commission's proposals.