Brussels 26 June 2013 – In view of the vote in the plenary in Strasbourg next week, the IRU urges MEPs to fully support a roadmap to harmonise national rules on periodic roadworthiness testing and technical roadside checks in the future.

During the preparations of the EP reports on the European Commission’s roadworthiness package, the IRU welcomed the positive vote from TRAN committee MEPs on a number of issues that would result in higher road safety standards across the EU. These include the equal treatment of heavy goods vehicles and agricultural tractors used for commercial road freight transport; a European harmonised approach to risk rating of road transport undertakings; European harmonised rules for cargo securing and a higher involvement of the private sector in periodic roadworthiness testing.

The upcoming vote in the EP Plenary during the week of 1 July should confirm the vote of the TRAN committee to give a clear message to the European Commission and the Council indicating that the European Parliament stands firmly behind a European approach to higher road safety standards.

Michael Nielsen, IRU General Delegate to the EU stressed: "With its draft reports on the Commission's roadworthiness package proposals, the Transport and Tourism Committee of the European Parliament, contrary to the original European Commission proposal and the opinion of the Transport Ministers of the Member States, gave an important positive sign towards the need for further harmonisation of the national rules and procedures for periodic roadworthiness testing and its enforcement on the roadside.

“Further harmonisation would not only reduce costs for road transport operators, but would automatically improve the road safety of commercial vehicles across the EU. It is therefore absolutely essential that the European Parliament confirms this position during next week's plenary vote in Strasbourg and stands firm in the subsequent negotiations with Ministers and the European Commission."

IRU Position on the Roadworthiness package

For further information please contact Stuart Colley, Communication and Events Officer at stuart.colley@iru.org, +32 2 743 2584, +32 476 049225, IRU Permanent Delegation to the EU, 32-34 av. de Tervueren, Box 17, 1040 Brussels, Belgium