EU reset talks an opportunity for our sector

The EU is still the UK's largest trading partner. The ongoing discussions with the European Commission are particularly relevant to the haulage, coach and van businesses we represent who operate across borders.

The current EU reset talks matter on a number of fronts. Specifically, we are calling on EU member states to take a pragmatic, light-touch approach to enforcement of the Entry/Exit System and 90/180 day rules, and to suspend penalties for at least two years while operators and authorities adjust.

We want the UK Government to have this firmly on the agenda in these reset talks, and to secure a Professional Drivers' Exemption for commercial vehicle drivers on international work. A practical, targeted measure that reduces bureaucratic hurdles. 

Closer dialogue with the EU can mean less friction. Cabotage rights, EES documentation requirements: These issues land directly on efficiency, costs and how productively our drivers can be used. Clearer guidance, realistic implementation timelines and less administration would protect businesses in a sector already running on tight margins.

Various EU states have been on record acknowledging the value that third-country businesses, including transport firms, bring to their economies. The talks continue to provide an opportunity for the UK Government to make the case for relevant easements that would benefit our essential sector and the wider economy.

We want to see solutions and there is a real chance now to find them if there's a willingness. We'll continue to proactively engage with MPs, stakeholders and decision-makers in the UK and EU. We'll also keep sharing industry feedback on the operational realities of working across borders, such as monitoring how EES performs on the ground.