The ministers took this step in response to unprecedented events such as the Russian government’s unjustifiable war in Ukraine, the significant increase in fuel prices, the coronavirus pandemic in Europe and the resulting challenges in the transport sector.
“The situation is tense across Europe as a result of the lack of drivers, and the war in Ukraine has only accentuated this problem. In this difficult period, when the need for movement of goods and raw materials and logistics has increased significantly, and the countries are urgently organising humanitarian aid for an increasing number of Ukrainian refugees, it is especially important that unjustified and disproportionate requirements of the Mobility Package, which constitute an obstacle to the operation of carriers from countries on the periphery of the EU, are reviewed as soon as possible or at least temporarily suspended,” says Minister of Transport and Communications M. Skuodis.
In a letter from the ministers of transport of Lithuania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Malta, Cyprus, Romania and Hungary to the EC Commissioner, it was also noted that in order to strengthen the resilience of the Community’s transport sector, it is necessary to establish a coherent regulatory framework and to introduce certain exemptions to be applied when pandemics and other major crises arise.
The latest amendments to the Mobility Package concerning the return of trucks to their country of registration and the restriction of cabotage operations entered into force on 21 February this year. Lithuania has already brought actions before the EU Court of Justice against these provisions, which are harmful from the perspective of the EU single market and environmental protection.
Poland and the neighbouring Baltic States have expressed their support with regards to Lithuania’s appeal.
The Lithuanian Minister of Transport and Communications also raised the issue of the negative impact of the Mobility Package at the informal meeting of EU transport ministers held in France on 21-22 February.
