Plans for a radical overhaul of the fragmented European regulations governing heavy and abnormal transport have moved a step closer after a successful High-Level Debate at the European Parliament in Brussels.
Military Mobility Package
Organized by ESTA, the debate was held on the eve of the publication of the European Commission’s Military Mobility Package which proposed the creation of abnormal transport corridors for both military and industrial use and added still further momentum to the reform process.
Political support
The event was hosted by Polish MEPs Elżbieta Łukacijewska and Dariusz Joński – both members of the European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Committee – and there were important contributions and support from MEPs, senior European Commission officials, representatives of the Council and a wide range of companies and organisations from across Europe.
Opening the discussions, Dariusz Joński said:
“It is so important to keep the heavy transport sector competitive and supported with the infrastructure it needs. Today, we have a unique opportunity to improve the function and operation of the regulations governing abnormal transport.”
The keynote presentation was given by ESTA Director Ton Klijn who set out ESTA’s four key priorities for the military mobility and abnormal transport agendas:
- implementing the weights and dimensions directive’s requirements for abnormal transports;
- aligning permitting procedures with NATO urgency levels;
- developing abnormal transport corridors;
- ensuring corridors are available for all abnormal transports.
Economic importance and urgency
Ton Klijn was supported by Marinka Nooteboom, CEO of the trailer manufacturer Nooteboom, and Lukasz Chwalczuk from ESTA member OSPTN, the Polish heavy transport association, who set out the important economic role of the sector and the multiple bureaucratic obstacles it currently faces right across Europe.
Other senior speakers included Filip-Alexandru Negreanu-Arboreanu from DG Move and the Nicolas Lyrakides from the Permanent Representation of Cyprus to the EU whose country will take over the Council Presidency from Denmark in January next year.
Optimism
Both were optimistic of rapid progress, both on military mobility and the proposed revisions to the Weights and Dimensions Directive which contains many measures ESTA has been requesting for many years.
Nicolas Lyrakides said that Cyprus would continue the momentum of the Danish Presidency and hoped that agreement will soon be reached on the revision to the directive which will allow Trilogue negotiations to begin in early 2026.
The Trilogue negotiations involve a final round of discussions between the Commission, the Parliament and the Council representing the governments of the Member States, after which a final text is sent to the Parliament and Council for formal adoption.
Ton Klijn said:
“The High-Level Debate was a considerable success and it confirmed the positive and growing level of support for our industry and its requirements among Europe’s politicians, regulators and officials.”
See the full story on the Military Mobility Package for more information.