The vote is the second major Parliament move relating to European truckers in less than a month, following an April 2010 decision to include lorry drivers in the EU's Working Time Directive (see 'Background').
Yesterday's motion – an own-initiative report which carries no legal obligations – arose due to major differences in how EU member states punish truck drivers who exceed legal limits governing the number of hours they spend or the distance they cover criss-crossing the continent.
Truckers who manipulate their tachograph (a device measuring time and distance driven) are penalised with a fine of up to €586 in Lithuania, €2,460 in Poland, €4,601 in Spain and €6,232 in Italy, while in France fines can be as high as €30,000, with the additional possibility of imprisonment of up to one year.
Austrian centre-right MEP Hella Ranner produced the report on this issue, and told EurActiv by phone from Strasbourg that harmonised EU rules were required because with current disparities, some truckers exploit the comparatively small fines in various member states by breaking more rules and taking greater risks.
Making these "necessary and important" changes will ensure European roads are safer, she argued.
Conservatives say 'no'
Unlike the more politically divisive debate on the Working Time exemption (see 'Background'), all the major groups in the European Parliament – right and left alike – backed the Ranner report, with the sole exception of the UK Tory-dominated European Conservatives and Reformists group (ECR).
The ECR's lead MEP on the report, UK member Philip Bradbourn, argued that setting fines and penalties should remain a matter for national governments, adding that "the Parliament is sending out a worrying statement of intent".
Speaking to EurActiv, a representative from Bradbourn's office explained that in the ECR's view, the Ranner proposals are "unrealistic and unworkable".
In this area, "one size does not fit all," they argued, adding that the ECR "expects it to collapse – there are too many holes in it".
While Ranner did concede that this is a "difficult issue," she nonetheless added that she expects a proposal from the European Commission by the end of 2010, and added that her own report should form the basis for this document.
While ultimate authority will remain with EU member states, Ranner believes the EU institutions have enough clout in this area to exert pressure on the EU 27 to harmonise their rules. However, the ECR argues that this is impossible, as the disparities in overall wealth between member states will inevitably be reflected in the maximum fines they can impose.
