International road transport: driving restrictions on heavygoods vehicles on designated roads, weekend bans

The European Parliament adopted the resolution drafted by its rapporteur Gilles SAVARY (PES, France) and made some amendments to the proposal on heavy goods vehicles involved in international transport. On the question of driving bans, Parliament felt that the existence of bans that differ from Member State to Member State is a cause of legal uncertainty in relation to the principle of the free movement of goods and Community provisions on guaranteeing freedom to provide transport services. The forthcoming enlargement and the resulting likely increase in heavy goods vehicle traffic can only make the situation more complicated. It also felt that comparative statistics are needed on the level of use of international routes to give an overall picture of traffic in the European Union and the applicant countries. On the basis of these statistics, it will be possible to assess the impact of driving restrictions on policies for the regulation of road transport. Parliament went on to insert an amendment stating that the Commission must prepare a list of infringements of the Directive in each of the Member States, and of the penalties applied by them. Finally, the date for transposition should be 31 December 2004, and the date of application of the Directive should be 1 July 2005.�