Combined transport of goods between Member States: common rules

The Parliament voted to approve proposals to amend the current Directive on the establishment of common rules for certain types of mixed transport - such as road and waterway transport. The Parliament's Rapporteur was Mr. Rijk VAN DAM (I-EDN, NL). A number of amendments that seek to encourage the use of environmentally friendly methods of transport were passed (rail, inland waterways and maritime transport). The Parliament agreed an amendment which states that the distance travelled by road should be as short as possible and not more than 40% of the total length of the journey. A further amendment states that Member States may, at their own discretion and on the basis of the use of terminals on their territory, reduce or reimburse the taxes specified in Article 6(3) that are applied to vehicles used in combined transport operations other than those referred to in Article 6(1) and (2). Instead of reducing or reimbursing the taxes specified in Art. 6(3), Member States may also provide for appropriate financial incentives. Such reductions or reimbursement of taxes and financial incentives shall, however, be limited to an amount corresponding to the amount of tax normally applicable to tractor units or any other vehicles engaged in combined transport.�