Amending EU/Ukraine Agreement on the carriage of freight by road
PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the Union, the Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine amending the Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine on the carriage of freight by road of 29 June 2022.
PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.
ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.
BACKGROUND: by Decision 2022/1158, the Council authorised the signature of the Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine on the carriage of freight by road. The Agreement has been provisionally applied since 29 June 2022, its conclusion was approved by Council Decision (EU) 2022/2435 and by Decision No 2/2023 of the Joint Committee established by the Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine on the carriage of freight by road, it was prolonged until 30 June 2024.
In accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2024/1876, the Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine amending the Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine on the carriage of freight by road of 29 June 2022 (the ‘amending Agreement’) was signed on 20 June 2024, subject to its conclusion at a later date. The amending Agreement has been provisionally applied since the day of its signature.
It is now necessary to approve the amending Agreement.
CONTENT: the draft Council Decision concerns the approval, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine amending the Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine on the carriage of freight by road of 29 June 2022.
Objectives
The Agreement has proven to be essential for Ukraine, supporting the Ukrainian society and economy by allowing Union and Ukrainian road haulage operators to carry out freight transport operations to and through the Ukrainian territory to the Union and vice-versa, thereby also supporting the Solidarity Lanes for Ukraine. Its effects remain positive also for the European Union, in particular for the Union’s exports to Ukraine. The conditions justifying the conclusion of the Agreement continue to prevail, in particular the important disruptions faced by the transport sector in Ukraine following Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
At the Joint Committee meeting held on 18 December 2023, it was concluded that the Agreement fulfils its intended purpose and that the underlying conditions justifying the Agreement remain valid. However, the Parties also noted several issues arising from the application and implementation of the Agreement and its possible impact at local level on the road transport sector in the Union. Limited changes to the Agreement are therefore required to facilitate its enforcement and strengthen its implementation.
In order for both the Union and Ukraine to continue benefiting from the positive effects of the Agreement on facilitating road freight transport between and through Ukraine and the Union, and subject to the necessary amendments, the Agreement should be prolonged until 30 June 2025, with the possibility for a tacit renewal for one period of six months.