Commission: Measures to Support Aviation, Rail, Maritime and Road Transport Sectors

The European Commission on Wednesday adopted a package of measures expected to provide relief to the transport sector that has been hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The package includes measures to support the aviation, rail, maritime, inland navigation and road sector and aims to solve practical problems, remove administrative burdens, and increase flexibility.

According to the Commission, the measures ensure that “no single player is hit harder than any other”, as the entire sector moves on from the travel restrictions put in place during the coronavirus pandemic.

“The EU’s entire transport sector must emerge strong from coronavirus to help get the economy moving once again,” the Commission said in an announcement.

Aviation
For aviation, the relief proposal addresses ground-handling services – authorising the extension of contracts to avoid complex tenders, and allowing concessions that will prevent airports from getting blocked should ground-handling companies go bankrupt. The proposal also modifies air carrier licensing rules temporarily to ease financial problems linked to the coronavirus.

Maritime

A proposal to amend the regulation on port charges will give Member States and port authorities the flexibility to defer, reduce or lift port infrastructure charges for port users, if they so wish. This will provide shipping companies, including those operating ferries, with much-needed liquidity.

Rail

For rail, the Commission is proposing to extend by three months the deadline by which some Member States must transpose EU law on rail safety and interoperability. The delay will ensure the sector has legal clarity, and can focus its time and resources on coronavirus recovery.

Road

The Commission also responded positively to requests from 11 Member States for temporary exemption from EU rules on driving times and rest periods that they have put in place. The exemption will provide drivers the flexibility they need to keep goods moving around Europe, even if they encounter queues at border crossings, reduced access to rest and sanitary facilities along the network. A further nine Member States have now also requested temporary exemption, and will receive a positive decision in the coming weeks.

In addition, the Commission announced that all transport modes will benefit from a proposal allowing for the validity date of certain certificates, licences and other authorisations to be extended. Certain periodic checks in road, rail, inland waterways transport and maritime security will also be postponed temporarily.

Additional proposals may follow in the coming weeks, providing additional relief to the transport sector.