Within the framework of the evaluation of the EU legislation (“REFIT”), the EU Commission over recent months has also carried out a fitness check for the protection of the environment. The result of this process is the “Action Plan for nature, people and the economy”, which since then has been intensively discussed in Brussels. Overall, the fitness check has reached the conclusion that the current environmental protection directives are fulfilling their purpose.

More than two years have passed since Violeta Bulc, Commissioner for Transport, initially announced the presentation of a comprehensive road transport package. Things were finally moving on 31st May: apart from the general communication, the package includes no fewer than eight legislative proposals, reaching from changing driving and rest periods for drivers, rules on posted workers in road transport, cabotage up to the framework for the toll system on Europe’s motorways.

On May 18th the European Parliament passed a resolution on road transport in the European Union. The timing is no coincidence: On the May 31st Commission is going to present a Mobility Package that will include some reforms particularly aimed at road traffic and the transport industry. As representative of Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc, Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan only presented a few details of the specific content of the package. Parliament, however, has already clarified how the European road traffic of the future is to be shaped.

This Wednesday, the European Transport Workers' Federation ETF called on its associated trade unions to join in a demonstration in Brussels to draw attention to the poor working conditions in the transport industry.

Global value-added chains - most of which also include offshoring and outsourcing - are now accounting for three quarters of global trade. A good opportunity for multinational companies to avoid taxes as well as high labour and envorinmental standards. This makes clear rules, which are now demanded in a report of the International Trade Committee in the European Parliament, even more important.

On Tuesday this week it finally happened: after more than one year of negotiations, the European Parliament voted with a large majority in favour of the report on circular economy by rapporteur Simona Bonafè, which provides for an ambitious path for European waste management until 2030. This report for example prescribes an increase of the recycling quota of household waste to 70 % and the reduction of food waste by half, compared to 2014.

Whilst the EU Commission does not want to clarify its position until Germany presents revised plans on introducing the toll, the European Parliament is taking an unequivocal stand. During the plenary session on 15 February, Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc already had to answer numerous critical questions by MEPs. On Tuesday, the Committee on Transport and Tourism of the European Parliament (TRAN) upped the ante and adopted a resolution, which demands that the Commission takes action against a car toll in Germany, which is not in accordance with EU law.

The Committee of Inquiry of the EU Parliament on Emission Measurements in the Automotive Sector, which was set up after the VW emissions scandal was obscured, has been meeting for a year. Many meetings later, the final report as well as recommendations to the Council and the Commission have now been presented and adopted by the Committee of Inquiry with a significant majority. They list the failings of the various stakeholders, which led to the scandal and determine necessary further steps.

The plans of the German Government to introduce a motorway toll have been met with massive criticism from Austria and other EU States from the very beginning. Put in practice, this toll should exclusively apply to drivers from abroad as German vehicle owners should see their vehicle tax reduced by the same amount. Initially, also the Commission regarded these plans as a violation of EU law and consequently induced infringement proceedings against Germany last summer. In response, Germany suspended the introduction of the toll for the time being.

Tricks regarding standard fuel consumption and exhaust emissions have been causing anger for a long time. Now, for the first time, the decision has been made to apply stricter rules in the EU: The Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection of the European Parliament (IMCO) voted on the proposed regulation, which stipulates what has to be done in future to prevent emission scandals by car manufacturers.