Transport policy: harmonization of social provisions

In some transport sectors, working and rest periods are not regulated at European level. Supported by the EP, the European Commission has taken initiatives to change this situation, taking into account that working and rest times are important factors in protecting health, transport safety and competition. Rapporteur GROSCH points out that there is a direct link between the proper regulation of working time, transport safety and workers' health and therefore Directive 93/104 should be applied to the various transport sectors ,simultaneously and as broadly as possible. The rapporteur summarizes the actual situation in the following sectors: railways, inland waterways, air transport, sea transport and road transport. Liberalisation is ,ot equally advanced in all areas of transport. The sectors which have come furthest is this respect demonstrate the need for regulation. Mr GROSCH takes the view that unregulated competition is detrimental to the industry as a whole and makes the climate for investments very unstable. Harmonisation of working conditins and transport safety are too important to be neglected in a genuine single transport market. Please note that the Committee on Social Affairs and Employment is the committee responsible for two reports in this area: - organization of working time to cover excluded sctors and activities (rapporteur: Raf CHANTERIE (EPP, B)) and - organization of working time for workers performing road avctivities and for seafarers (rapporteur: Hugh McMAHON (PES, UK)).�